How to adopt a network approach

There’s been a lot of hype around citizen assemblies.

If you haven’t heard of them, a citizen assembly is when members of the public are chosen, by lottery, to discuss and make recommendations on a specific policy question. (Institute of Government)

They have been hailed as the panacea for plummeting trust in institutions around the world.

Here’s my take, they are a great place to start. They are a great way to plant seeds but real trust and understanding is built over time.

This is where BUILD comes in

What happens to those seeds? The latent relationships and understanding when the citizen assembly ends?

What happens when the grant or the conference or the fellowship or mentorship programme ends? I hear this from organisations all the time.

“We have so much energy but then it dissipates.”

“Everyone goes back to their normal life.”

“We don’t have enough resource to keep people engaged”

The real question is, how can my organisation build and maintain trust and action? We can work backwards here. Because relationships lead to trust which leads to collaboration which leads to sustained support and action.

To build the infrastructure for relationships, you need a network approach. (If you’re new here, start here with What is a network approach? )

Green tomatoes on the vine (Chad Stembridge via upsplash)

How to Adopt a Network Approach

It’s a common analogy but I think it really works.

🌱 Assemblies, conferences, fellowships, workshops = planting seeds

🌐 Relational networks = nurturing those seedlings to become gardens

Whether you are a small social impact community or a multilateral organisation, you can adapt a network approach. With a caveat that organisations which have a really hierarchical, bureaucratic culture will find this a heavier lift.

1. Build a Culture of Transparency and Agency 👀

Transparency and shared ownership are the foundation of relational work.

It’s about creating an environment where people feel they can contribute, learn, and co-create. Share your wins, losses, and uncertainties openly. Anyone who’s watched a Brene Brown TED talk knows that vulnerability is at the heart of trust.

Example: Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB Canada) is known for its Failure Reports, an annual publication dedicated to sharing what went wrong in their projects. Here, they actually build more trust than if they were to brush these ‘failures’ under the carpet. 100% stealing this idea 💡

Example 2: The Numun Fund, a feminist tech fund has both a Peer Accountability Council and a Grantmaking Design Circle, where members of the ecosystem can help decide where funding goes.

2. Invest in Technology and Tools for Collaboration 🖥

The right tools can amplify your network's reach and value.

Technology should enhance—not replace—relational work. It’s a tool, just like a whiteboard is a tool for good brainstorming.

However, a word of caution: when you ask for input, ensure there’s a clear mechanism to act on it or at least demonstrate how the input was considered. This builds trust and shows respect for people’s contributions.

Example: The Wellbeing Protocol is using Web 3 inspired digital infrastructure to allow participatory grantmaking where community groups can democratically allocate grant funding towards their self determined goals.

NB. I also really like Polis, an algorithm created to collect a group’s opinions and then highlight the similarities in belief, rather than the differences. If anyone has used this effectively, let’s talk.

3. Design Network Architecture 🌐

A well-designed network doesn’t just connect people; it creates opportunities for deep collaboration.

Think of it as designing a web of nodes where relationships thrive, and impact multiplies.

This is less about facilitating the 1:1 relationships but creating regional or subject area nodes and consistent touch points, which allow the relationships to multiply without much intervention.

When structuring your network, consider:

• Programmatic Touchpoints: Regular events, workshops, problem hacking workshops and small-group sessions that build momentum(if designed well).

• Peer Leadership: Identify key individuals who can serve as advocates, connectors or facilitators within the network.

• Regional or thematic hubs: Again, these can take a huge amount of resource if not designed with intention but the basic idea is that segmentation makes ownership and cooperation easier and allows for more knowledge sharing.

Example: Ashoka, a global organisation for social entrepreneurs, excels at network architecture. Its Fellowship Programme is designed to connect changemakers through regional hubs, peer-led learning groups, and thematic collaborations. By focusing on shared values and collective goals, Ashoka sustains long-term engagement.

4. Establish Metrics for Network Health 📈

Measuring the impact of a network isn’t straightforward, but it’s essential.

Combine quantitative, qualitative, and intuitive metrics (yes I said it!) to capture a holistic view of network health.

For example:

• Quantitative: Event attendance, online engagement rates, or partnership collaborations.

• Qualitative: Surveys asking participants if they formed meaningful connections or gained valuable insights.

• Intuitive: How did people feel about the event or programme? Was the energy high? Were people excited about future involvement?

Example: Catalyst 2030 is a network of nearly 4,000 NGOs, social enterprises, funders, intermediaries, and other innovators collaborating to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They record and track, not just the amount of legal partnerships that happen within the network but they also track the numbers of more informal collaborations.

The Ripple Effect 🌊

A network approach is especially powerful for sustaining engagement with groups that have already attended an event, assembly, conference or fellowship together. These individuals already understand your mission and probably want to do more to support. Your role is to nurture and amplify that connection so they continue driving change and investing in your organisation.

By adopting a network approach, you’re not just connecting people—you’re creating a resilient ecosystem of changemakers who multiply each other’s impact.

Together, we can develop collective power to build a more equitable, transparent, and just world.