Evaluating IDRC’s strategy to scale impact
At IDRC, “scaling impact” means optimizing results in ways that matter most to people and our planet. Scaling our impact is central to the way we work and the research we support.
IDRC commissioned an evaluation to assess how well scaling was being implemented at the Centre. It gathered diverse perspectives with the intention of learning from the experiences of the global research community, including other funders and research teams who are leading efforts to scale the impact of their work.
Key insights of the evaluation, led by On Think Tanks and Southern Hemisphere, include the importance of discussing scaling early on, considering the possible negative impacts of scaling, and paying attention to context and complexity, including barriers and alternatives. The lessons include understanding realistic timelines for sustainable scaling, leveraging flexible funding and synthesis, the importance of diversity and inclusion in scaling equitable impact and the demands of effective coordination of diverse and evolving actors in the scaling process. The results of this evaluation will continue to inform IDRC’s work in the Centre’s Strategy 2030.
Read the full evaluation report
Learn more about IDRC’s Scaling Science initiative
Visit scalingxchange.org to learn more about actions that researchers from across the Global South have proposed to improve how funders, development agencies, researchers and innovators can work together to scale impact.