What the Project Is
Sophoi provides monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) expertise to help people and organisations sense-make, learn and adapt. Its approach is collaborative, practical and evidence-based, aiming to address the most pressing global challenges such as climate change, environment and biodiversity loss, poverty and inequality. Sophoi is a pioneer of the deeper integration of evidence with experience through collaborative sensemaking – really, a transformative way of working. The project leverages a Results — Sensemaking — Learning (RSL) approach, enabling stakeholders to apply their experiences and insights to make sense of evidence, fostering an adaptive and continuous learning environment.
Main Benefit
Key figures and facts highlight the impact and reach of this initiative:
- Contributed to solutions addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pressing social issues.
- Partners include foundations and institutions such as the Mastercard Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, the African Development Bank, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
- Focused on turning evidence and experience into meaningful change, ensuring practical and robust support.
- Innovative and adaptive learning approaches fuel both the project’s internal strategies and its impact on external partners.
- Supports the application of complex systems thinking and collaborative sensemaking to turn challenges into opportunities.
Embracing Purpose and Values
Sophoi’s purpose is driven by a deep commitment to addressing the defining challenges of our times. With climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and inequality taking center stage in global discourse, the project responds by embedding robust evidence, hands-on learning and enhanced capacity into every collaboration. By valuing imagination, empathy, rigour and reflection, Sophoi nurtures a work culture that is both inspiring and effective. The emphasis on collaborative sensemaking ensures that teams and organisations can come together, understand challenges, engage in meaningful dialogue, and arrive at insights that drive systemic change… It’s not just about identifying a problem, but about evolving a collective strategy that reflects the complexity of the Anthropocene.
Tackling Wicked Problems
At its core, the project is engineered to confront “wicked problems” – these are the dynamic, urgent challenges that define our era. Through resilient and transformative methods, Sophoi continually tests and scales innovative solutions. Climate change, environment and biodiversity loss, and social disparities such as poverty and inequality are approached not as isolated issues but as interconnected phenomena. The project’s work is deeply rooted in complex systems thinking, bringing together evidence and experience in a way that transforms uncertainty into opportunity. This integrated focus helps organisations and communities adapt to evolving challenges with adaptability and meaningful change at the forefront.
Innovative Collaborative Sensemaking
The heart of the methodology is found in the Results — Sensemaking — Learning (RSL) approach. This framework is simple yet revolutionary: evidence is thoroughly examined, insights are collaboratively gathered, and results are then turned into learning moments to influence future strategies. Sophoi’s work involves bringing together diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment towards understanding internal and external challenges. The process is both robust and practical, often leading to those exciting “aha” moments that open up new ways of tackling entrenched issues… It’s about making sense of complex data and experiences in a way that feels natural, dynamic and effective.
A Commitment to Rigour and Reflection
Sophoi’s commitment to a positive social and environmental contribution is evident in its rigorous, evidence-based approach. Services and expertise are designed to ensure that every step taken is grounded in robust research and practical learning. This confluence of rigour and reflection helps teams and organisations identify key challenges and adapt with confidence. The underlying value here is to always push for better outcomes by thinking deeply about not just what works, but why it works. Through these reflective practices, the project solidifies its role as a catalyst for resilient and adaptive change, ensuring that every collaboration leaves a lasting impact.
Project Impact
- Climate Action (SDG 13)
- Life Below Water (SDG 14)
- Life on Land (SDG 15)
- No Poverty (SDG 1)
- Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
Charting a Path Forward
Grounded by strong values such as imagination, empathy, rigour, and reflection, Sophoi continues to forge a path that connects evidence with experience in a meaningful way. The project’s current and ongoing collaborations with global institutions underscore its unwavering commitment to addressing urgent global challenges while nurturing innovative and adaptive practices. By focusing on deep, collaborative sensemaking and solid evidence-based approaches, Sophoi is not only helping organisations adapt to change but also driving sustainable transformation that benefits communities and ecosystems. This adaptive spirit, coupled with practical expertise, ensures that each collaborative effort moves the needle toward a more resilient and inclusive future… The journey is ongoing and filled with potential, marking a transformative shift in how global challenges are met and overcome.
