Catalysts for Change Project
Catalysts for Change: Paths out of Poverty
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Around the world, hundreds of millions of people are looking for ways out of poverty. While progress has been made, over 1.2 billion poor or vulnerable people around the world are still living in extreme poverty.
To close this gap, the Rockefeller Foundation joined forces with IFTF to test a new way of solving global problems and developing solutions.
The Map
Catalysts for Change is a map to change the world—to build resilience and equity in communities everywhere. The key to this change is leverage—and these four catalysts provide leverage in the lives of poor and vulnerable people: New Evidence, New Capacities, New Rules, and New Stories. Check out the PDF version of the map now.
The Game
On April 3-5, IFTF and the Rockefeller Foundation invited people all over the world to join the Catalysts for Change Foresight Engine game and imagine thousands of paths out of poverty. More than 1,600 people from 79 countries responded, and after 48 hours they had imagined 18,160 ideas for ways to catalyze change in poor, vulnerable, or marginalized communities. You can check out an archive of the game site and read the game summary report for more information.
The Outcomes
25 Zones of Innovation emerged from the Catalysts for Change game—an amalgamation of ideas built from the ground up by over 1,600 players from 79 countries. Each Zone suggests a new way forward to building resilient and equitable communities. Find out more »
The Press
- Forbes.com: "Over to You Mr. Smarty-Pants: How Would You Fix the World?"
- Evolution of Philanthropy: "Game Mechanics for causes—Catalysts for Change"
- Fast Company’s Co.Exist: "Join Jane McGonigal In Gaming The World Out Of Poverty"
- Venture Beat: "Game designers and Rockefeller Foundation attack poverty with fun"
- Boing Boing: "Contribute your ideas to fight global poverty"
- Education Week: "Leveling Up Global Competence"
- Huffington Post: "Global Hunger Games"