This document summarizes an initial scan of the landscape of actors discussing adaptive practice. It finds that there are numerous frameworks being used to discuss adaptive practice by a wide range of actors including NGOs, universities, and consulting firms. It outlines some of the key publications, initiatives, and measurement frameworks identified in the public domain that discuss concepts like adaptive management, learning, and complexity. However, it notes that the scan was not systematic and was limited by time, resources, and access to non-public information. It provides an early overview as a starting point for further conversation on the topic.

1. Design for Adaptive Practice: a CoP Approach
Kirsten Collins
AdaptivePurpose LLC
Luis Ortiz Echevarria
Management Sciences for Health

3. COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
Defined goal
Community
readiness
Sponsorship
Organizational
support
Mix of
contributors
Connectedness
Appropriate
platform
Membership
hierarchy
Passion and
enthusiasm
Community
recruitment

4. Who is talking about what?
An initial scan on adaptive practice

5. Initial Scan: Purpose
● Increased interest in adaptive approaches to program design,
implementation and evaluation of complex programs
● Numerous ambiguous and/or overlapping terminologies and
frameworks being used by a wide range of actors
● What is the landscape of actors? Who are they and how are they
talking about adaptive practice?

6. Methodology
● Select number of “actors” (NGOs, groups, associations, listservs, universities,
consulting firms, etc.)
● Information in the public domain
● Key Words: Adaptive management, learning, and practice, complexity, complexity
aware, problem driven iterative adaptation
● Main Questions: Literature, Current initiatives, Measurement framework
Initiatives and ActivitiesPublications & Articles Measurement

7. Initial
Scan
Publications
& Articles
Measurement
Initiatives
& Activities
R4D: Workshop on “Adaptive
Learning: A new paradigm or just
another fad?”
World Bank Burundi case study:
Leadership for Results (L4R)
program
Harvard: Online education courses
on PDIA approach and the Building
State Capability
Harvard PDIA mixed methods
evaluation
World Bank: Global Delivery
Case Study Library
FSG “Evaluating Complexity”
USAID CLA maturity matrix
Illustrative Findings Harvard: "Scaling PDIA Solutions
through Broad Agency, and Your
Role"
Core Group: “Call to Action:
Complexity Matters
World Bank “Mind, Society, and
Behavior”

8. Insights & Limitations
● Not systematic, but conversation
starter
● Time constraint, limited # reviewers,
limited selection of key actors and
key words
● No in-depth content review
● Omission of “informal” literature
such as blogs and discussion posts
● Limited access to information in
public domain
● Limited technical areas (e.g. did
not include resiliency
programming and natural
resource management (NRM)
● Did not determine important
connections and collaborations

9. Video: Complexity & Praxis launch
YouTube: https://youtu.be/khqobTtCp00

10. Where are we now? Complexity & Praxis CoP
● Organic development
● Defined space/shared interest in learning and sharing
● Planning and launch of first community meeting
● Experimentation with communication platforms
● Formation of a coordinating committee
● Broadening our membership, remaining cross-sectoral
Join our Community!
complexityandpraxis@knowledge-gateway.org