Scaling up after small trials
Pilot programs test the validity of an organisation's approaches, but far too often they end with no follow-up and no descendants. It is vitally important to have in hand a reliable way to expand a small-scale trial into something large enough to make a difference.
What is scaling up?
Scaling up means expanding the impact of a successful effort to the regional, national or even multinational level. The expansion may be
- quantative (spreading to new audiences/areas/organisations)
- functional (expanding from one technical area to another)
- political (moving from community level to district/regional/national level via policy changes)
- organisational (involving diversification or partnerships and alliances)
- or it may involve a combination of these dimensions.
What are the options for scaling a program?
- Planned expansion - a steady process of expanding the number of sites for a program model once it has been pilot-tested and refined.
- Explosion - the sudden implementation of a large-scale program or intervention.
- Association - an expansion of program size or coverage through common efforts by and alliances among a network of organisations.
- Grafting - the addition of a new program/programs to an already existing, related program.
- Diffusion - sharing materials so that other organisations can learn from or replicate approaches.
Key factors for success
- Having a vision for scaling up from the beginning.
- Choosing pilot sites carefully.
- Aiming for high impact. Results that are easy to measure or see get attention.
- Developing solid partnerships with existing organisations.
- Involving partners from other sectors.
- Fostering the emergence and growth of dynamic community and political leaders.
- Strengthening systems and organisational capacity, thus ensuring that scaling up can be supported.
- Promoting horizontal networking.
- Testing the approach. Proving effectiveness is essential to scaling.
- Consolidating, defining and refining. Planners should know which aspects of the original program to hold on to, and which to let go.
- Simplifying program design as much as possible. A how-to manual will help others follow an approach more easily.
- Continuously monitoring and evaluating. It can take several iterations to get the basics right.
- Recognising achievement and publicising program results.
- Diversifying the funding base and encouraging community ownership.