Climate action requires faster transformational change across more sectors and countries than ever seen in human history. We need to build a better “operating system” for change through reforming institutions and policies. The requires better methods for designing change processes across economies and institutions if there is to be any chance of maintaining a safe climate.

But there is always a dilemma in designing “campaigns” for change. A firm proposal for change has the benefit of clarity of communication, but the risk that it may deter potential supporters who would like to deliver the same outcome in a different way. Managing this tension between strategic focus and flexible coalition-building diplomacy was one of the early dilemmas in defining E3G’s core change methodology.

In response to these - often intense - internal debates Nick Mabey developed the Change Framework which outlines a simple two stage process to guide the design & delivery of change projects and the capabilities needed to support them.

In the Change Framework rather than jumping straight to a specific campaign “ask” there is a process of developing an initial set of “propositions” all of which would contribute to the desired strategic outcome. These are created with core delivery partners based on “off-line” policy analysis and political mapping. By “doing the politics and policy together” E3G aims to ensure the creation of politically attractive and practical proposals.

However, the first rule of strategy is that no plan survive contact with the enemy, or indeed with allies. These initial propositions are then tested, refined and amended during “on-line” in discussions with potential coalition partners; forming part of the the practice of building and animating a set of winning coalitions. At the same time, the ideas are rigorously tested against the reality of detailed implementation through legislation, institutional change and delivery practice. Building in this explicit iterative phase aims to avoid “groupthink” and create strong politcal backing and implementation ready ideas to ensure the highest likelihood of a favourable decision on a concrete outcome.

Put more simply, the Change Framework aims to ensure that E3G puts forward the right choices, at the right time, to the right people, in the right context to maximise the likelihood of success.

The Change Framework lies at the heart of E3G’s infuencing methodology and organisational design. E3G has also worked with a wide range of other organisations and sectors to share and refine the Change Framework. Nick Mabey talks through some of the ideas behind the change framework in this speech given at the MIT Technology and Policy Programme 30th Anniversary.