COLLECTIVE IMPACT – JUNE 2014

Collective impact has been defined as “the commitment of a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem” (Kania and Kramer, 2011 : 36). It proposes collaboration between government, corporate, NGOs, community groups and individuals to solve community issues.

Collective impact emerges from the US and its features take root in particular notions of community development that have been around for a long time. However, Kania and Kramer, from global non-profit consulting agency Foundation Strategy Group (FSG), are the first to articulate and promote collective impact as a specific paradigm, writing extensively about the model in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Specifically, it initiates a change that counter acts practices in the social sector that have become focused on addressing issues via isolated approaches.