Five Conditions of Collective Impact
Collective Impact is a disciplined, cross-sector approach to solving complex issues on a large scale and consists of five conditions:
I. Common Agenda
All participants share a vision for change that includes a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving the problem through agreed-upon action.
II. Shared Measurement
All participating organisations agree on the ways success will be measured and reporter with a short list of common indicators, identified and used for learning and improvement.
III. Mutually Reinforcing Activities
A diverse set of stakeholders, typically across sectors, co-ordinate a set of differentiated activities through a mutually re-inforcing plan of action.
IV. Continuous Communication
All players engage in frequent, structured, and open communication to build trust, assure mutual objectives, and create common motivation.
V. Backbone Support
A separate organisation is dedicated to co-ordinating the various dimensions and collaborators involved in the initiative. Supporting backbone infrastructure is essential to ensuring the collective impact effort maintains momentum and facilities impact. The City of Prince George provides backbone support as the community implements its first collective impact initiative. This support, enabled through dedicated resources, will focus on six (6) key functions:
Guiding Vision and Strategy
The City will organize and facilitate community opportunities to select a complex issue to be addressed using a collective impact approach (the common agenda). Working with key leaders, the City will provide strategic guidance as organizations align their efforts with the common agenda.
Supporting Aligned Activities
The City will facilitate partner support for, and participation in, the initiative. This will be achieved by ensuring relevant stakeholders are engaged, communication channels are established and maintained, and partners feel supported in their efforts to align activities with the initiative.
Establishing Shared Measurement Practices
The City will facilitate the development of a shared data system that is valued and supported by partners because it contributes to informed decision making and improved outcomes.
Building Public Will
The City will utilize its networks and communication channels to generate public awareness of the issue so that community members are motivated to take action and have opportunities to engage.
You can assist with the Community Collective Impact Initiative in various ways:
Core: Get actively involved in the functioning and development of a Collective Impact effort. Examples include Working Group Member, Advocate, Data Manager
Involved: Provide frequent, in-depth feedback and/or assistance with a Collective Impact effort. Examples include Community Workshop Participant, Sponsor/Contributor, Volunteer
Supportive: Provide some form of support and input to further a Collective Impact effort. Examples include Survey Respondent, Event Promoter, Communicator
Interested: Be regularly informed of progress in Collective Impact effort without being directly involved. Examples include e-News Recipient
Advancing Policy
The City will target influencers and policymakers to ensure they are aware of the initiative, and actively advocate for necessary systemic changes.
Mobilizing Funding
The City will work with funders to identify opportunities to contribute to the community's collective impact initiative, through the multi-sectoral alignment of funding criteria, redirection of funding in support of collaborative efforts, and the development of new public and private sources.
As the backbone organization, the City will NOT:
- Set the agenda for the community
- Drive the solutions
- Receive all associated funding
Prince George's Collective Impact Vision
All children, youth and their families have the opportunity to participate and achieve optimal health, development, and well-being in a child-friendly community.
We will achieve this vision by:
- Improving physical health, as well and social and emotional development
- Improving food security
- Reducing poverty
- Reducing teen pregnancy rates
Our strategies will focus on:
- Advocating for policy change to improve systems
- Enhancing and improving access to services
- Learning through the implementation of a prototype to test a new approach
- Increasing coordination through re-alignment of existing programs
Community Action to Date
Launching a collective impact initiative has four prerequisites including:
- A local champion
- Urgency
- Trust
- Resources for collaboration
The City of Prince George formed a Collective Impact Backbone Leadership Working Group to guide the City's actions as a local champion.
Its work began in April of 2016 when several members participated in a conference to learn about collective impact and the role of a backbone organization. The working group met many times from April – December, 2016. Its stewardship of the collective impact process is captured in meeting notes which can be accessed below. To gauge urgency and build trust the City resourced and, with the assistance of the Tamarack Institute, facilitated several community workshops and consultation sessions.
The September 20, 2016 community workshop culminated in the selection of a collective impact initiative; the improvement of children's health. Presentations made at these sessions as well as notes detailing community feedback and direction can also be accessed below.
To ensure all sectors are kept informed of the community's progress with the collective impact process, the City of Prince George initiated e-updates. To date, two updates have been distributed to more than 150 subscribers. Regular updates will continue throughout 2017 and will be available on this webpage.
[Video] Raise Up Our Kids
The City of Prince George is facilitating a Collective Impact initiative called, "Raise Up Our Kids". The vision is, "All children, youth, and their families have the opportunity to participate and achieve optimal health, development, and well-being in a child-friendly community."
Community Leadership
July 21, 2016
September 19, 2016
March 2, 2017
April 4, 2017
Community Workshops
June 9, 2016 - Introductory Community Workshop
July/August, 2016 - Community Priorities Consultation Session
September 20, 2016 - Priority Setting Community Workshop
Community Updates
Collective Impact Resources