Partnering for impact:

Transformative social
innovation through an
intermediary
organisation
6 April 2024

Dr Simon Sizwe Mayson

Programme Lead: Energy & Climate
Economic Development Partnership
The drive for change in the face of global
challenges
• As we strive for ‘a good life’ as individuals, collectively we are creating a future “no one
wants” (Scharmer 2016: 38)
• Growing social inequalities and environmental crises globally, with South Africa facing
the worst
• The limitations of the current economic system for people, future generations, and the
planet; nascent alternatives Wellbeing economies (Degrowth / Doughnut Economics)
• Changemakers: while some say “‘something ought to be done about it’, others do
something” (Mayson, 1976: 7).
• Potential of enabling changemakers (enhancing their agency) through partnering, towards
“transformative social innovation”
Researcher as aspirant changemaker?
Establishing the Makers Valley Partnership
Started as an informal group of creatives based in Joburg Inner
City East in 2018

Diversifying the group: property developers, residents, NPOs

Theory of Change processes: “the organic without structure can

crumble”, and furthermore, “somebody has to be organised and
hold that vision” (individual that became MVP Team Lead)

Various iterations >> registered NPO run by the MVP Team,

CEO (2020)
 MVP Team strove to realise the outcomes that arose from the
collaborative Theory of Change process, but not to undertake
the activities itself

Enabling a MVP mobilised social and financial capital

wellbeing
economy as Built connections between changemakers at neighbourhood
an level as well as connections between local changemakers and
those within international organisations.

intermediary “Weaving ‘convergence networks’ of diverse individuals and

organisations across localities”, achieving system transition as
opposed to isolated activities (Tompt, 2018)
Website: Makersvalley.org.za
Social media: @makersvalley.jozi
Insights from action research process
• The importance of collaborative intermediary organisations that blend radical vision with
pragmatic action.
• MVP channelled sometimes disparate or ‘siloed’ changemaking agency into something more
programmatic and sustainable, building institutional capacity and continuity beyond individuals
• Intermediaries “create a bundle of knowledge, meaning, and vision that is open ended enough to
attract different interest groups with their different concerns, and to allow them to work
collaboratively on a common project” (Westley et al., 2013: 31).
• Potential hegemonisation that can result from dominant intermediary organisations
• Conflict over ‘turf’ & fear of individual identities being swamped by MVP
• Future research directions to explore power dynamics, inclusion, and the replication of such
models in different contexts.
• Side-note: the power of action research, researchers as changemakers?
About the EDP
OUR PURPOSE
A public-benefit collaborative
intermediary organisation that
supports diverse stakeholders to
harness each other’s energy,
knowledge and resources for
collective impact and change.
OUR FOCUS
Partnering, adaptation and learning
to inspire joint action, shared
learning and mutual
accountability to address complex
problems. Particularly in low trust,
low certainty environments.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Working within the public sector
enables us to build state capacity
by strengthening relationships
between departments, spheres and
with non-state actors.
 THANK YOU

Dr Simon Simon Mayson simon@wcedp.co.za www.wcedp.co.za

+27 (0) 65 901 7793
Programme Lead: Energy & Climate