How do you cultivate innovation and creativity in your network's programs and projects?

1 Identify your network's vision and values

Before you can innovate, you need to have a clear and shared understanding of what your network's vision and values are. What is the common goal or purpose that unites your network? What are the principles and standards that guide your network's actions and decisions? Having a vision and values statement can help you align your network's programs and projects with your network's identity and aspirations. It can also help you communicate your network's story and impact to your stakeholders and partners.

2 Involve your network's members and beneficiaries

Innovation and creativity are not the exclusive domain of experts or leaders. They are the result of diverse perspectives and experiences that can spark new insights and possibilities. That's why you should involve your network's members and beneficiaries in your program and project design, implementation, and evaluation. Seek their input, feedback, and suggestions on how to improve your network's activities and outcomes. Create opportunities for them to share their stories, challenges, and successes with each other and with you. Listen to their needs, interests, and aspirations, and co-create solutions with them.

3 Experiment and learn from failures

Innovation and creativity require a willingness to try new things, take risks, and learn from failures. You can't expect to find the best solution or approach on the first try. You need to test your assumptions, hypotheses, and prototypes, and collect data and evidence on what works and what doesn't. You also need to embrace failures as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as setbacks or mistakes. Celebrate your network's failures as much as your successes, and share your learnings and insights with your network and beyond.

4 Collaborate and cross-pollinate

Innovation and creativity thrive on collaboration and cross-pollination. You can't innovate in isolation or in silos. You need to connect with other networks, organizations, sectors, and disciplines that can offer different perspectives, skills, resources, and solutions. You need to foster a culture of openness, trust, and generosity in your network, where you share your knowledge, ideas, and challenges with others, and seek their input, support, and feedback. You also need to create spaces and platforms for your network to interact, exchange, and co-create with other actors and stakeholders.

5 Recognize and reward innovation and creativity

Innovation and creativity need recognition and reward to sustain and scale. You need to acknowledge and appreciate your network's efforts and achievements in generating and implementing new ideas and solutions. You need to provide incentives and opportunities for your network to continue to innovate and create. You also need to showcase and celebrate your network's innovation and creativity to your internal and external audiences, and inspire them to join or support your network's mission and vision.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?