Overview
Our network of experts advances Translational Research and Design, which brings together scientists, practitioners, and protagonists to help communities, organizations, agencies, and governments build local solutions to global problems. Drawing on the imperfection of human nature and institutions, we focus on easing the tension that change poses as a complex, scary, and uncomfortable perceived process. We aim to use the science and practice of transition to help our partners bridge the intention-action gap effectively to achieve desired goals on a myriad of domains. Where voluntary change, self and collective efficacy, reference network activation, and harmonization between rules and behavior are indispensable, our transformative strategy promotes local governance and ownership for sustainable solutions. To do so, we provide adaptive and flexible enabling infrastructures to cope with inter-temporal dynamics and context relevance. Polycentrica co-designs pathways for ecosocial change designing applied-oriented solutions based on rigorous in-house research on brain and behavioral sciences, enhanced by the power of SBCC, capacity-building and learning, art & design, technology, and experiential creative methodologies.
Framework
Our multi-dimensional framework understands the centrality of learning as the key mechanism to spark social change. As an evidence-based approach, The Scissors ® integrates and extends: Elinor Ostrom's theory of polycentric orders from commons literature; The World Bank's Mind, Society and Behavior (2015) framework from behavioral economics for development; Karla Hoff's Enculturated Actor approach (2018); Antanas Mockus’ Citizen Culture experience; The Cognitive Institutionalism framework proposed by Mantzavinos, North and Shariq (2004/2001). All encompassed in the planetary boundaries approach of Rockstrom et al. 2009. We focus on the power of neuroplasticity and social learning to embrace complexity and build synergistic activation through participatory solution mapping, design, implementation, evaluation, scaling for learning and capacity-building, aiming for locally owned sustainable change. * * * * * *
Path-ways for Change
Barrier Mapping & Behavioral Audits Critical mass-building and Reference Network Activation Deliberative Agreements for Local Governance OMMELSI: Operationalization, Measurement, Monitoring, Evaluation, for Learning, Replication, Scaling & Iteration F.E.S.T.I.N.N. Interventions Mass Media and Technology-Based Interventions Enabling-Infrastructure Development Executive training for teams on Applied Brain and Behavioral Science for communities, organizations, industry and Governments. * * * * *
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Key Themes
People Strategy & Organizational Dynamics Conflict Mediation and Management Behavioral Policy and Programming Behavioral Health Environmental Behavioral Economics Urban Behavioral Science Social and Behavioral Change Communications Territorial transitions for inclusion and integration Data Action * * * * * * * * *