Community-Based Innovation

Innovation isn't just born in Silicon Valley. Across Africa, constraint itself has become a catalyst for creativity. With over 1.5 billion people, nearly 19% of the world's population, Africa receives less than 1% of global R&D investment. This imbalance means much of the world's innovation funding targets convenience, while many African communities still face unreliable electricity and limited access to clean water. Yet capital scarcity has sparked a different discipline—one that prioritizes sustainable economics and local ownership. In Tanzania, the NanoFilter uses nanomaterials to remove toxins from groundwater, providing clean water to more than 250,000 people. It's locally produced, affordable, and maintained by community entrepreneurs who turn safe water into a sustainable business model. In Uganda, the Solar Suitcase brings light to rural health clinics, enabling midwives to safely deliver babies at night. Thousands of units are in use across sub-Saharan Africa, reducing maternal deaths and creating jobs for women trained to install and maintain the systems. These innovations are not acts of charity but expressions of innovation sovereignty, built by and for local communities. They show that necessity does not limit invention—it fuels it. What begins as a response to scarcity often evolves into a model for resilience, influencing how we think about innovation on a global scale. #InnovationLeadership #GlobalStrategy #SustainableInnovation #AfricaRising

How 56,000 Residents Are Rewriting the Heat Pump Playbook 🏡 Quick context: Heat pumps are super-efficient electric heating and cooling systems that can replace gas furnaces and air conditioners. They're crucial for decarbonizing homes and improving energy efficiency. The conventional wisdom says adoption depends on: • Federal tax credits • Utility rebates • Contractor availability • Equipment costs But something fascinating is happening in communities across America... New data from RMI reveals how 12 local programs are cracking the adoption code through an entirely different approach. Here's what they discovered: 1. The Missing Ingredient: Community Leadership Traditional programs focus on: - Marketing utility rebates - Technical education - Contractor training - Individual sales What's actually working: - Local government coordination - Neighborhood champions - Volunteer "heat pump ambassadors" - Community installation tours - Multilingual engagement 2. The Proof Is In The Numbers Real results from these community-led programs: - 56,000+ residents actively engaged - 100+ local contractors brought into network - 3,000+ successful installations - 95% reduction in home fossil fuel use - Materials in 8+ languages - 3,500+ neighbor-to-neighbor conversations in Cincinnati alone 3. The Innovation That's Working These communities succeeded by: - Partnering with BIPOC organizations to ensure equitable program design - Creating qualified local contractor networks (saves homeowners time) - Offering full coverage options for income-qualified residents - Training volunteer ambassadors who speak the community's language - Hosting neighborhood tours so people can see installations firsthand Key insight: While the industry debates technical specs and rebate amounts, these communities are showing that adoption barriers are more social than technical. People trust their neighbors more than utility mailers. For utilities: This is how you build trust and engagement at scale. For contractors: A blueprint for community-led market development. For policy makers: Evidence that local partnerships accelerate adoption. For community organizations: A proven model to lead climate action locally. Question: What other clean energy technologies could benefit from this community-led approach? What are we missing by focusing solely on incentives and technology? #HeatPumpRevolution #CommunityPower #CleanEnergy #LocalLeadership

Innovation Is a Community Effort — Not a Job Title When we talk about innovation in government, the conversation too often focuses on tools, technologies, or methodologies. But after more than a decade helping national, state, and local governments tackle their toughest challenges, I’ve learned this: innovation is only as strong as the people that expands its reach. Innovation doesn’t live in a department. It lives in people—and in the relationships, trust, and shared purpose they build together. Across the country, and most recently through our partnership with the City of Pomona, I’ve seen how powerful it is when frontline workers, community members, managers, executives, nonprofit partners, and residents all begin to see themselves as part of a shared innovation ecosystem. When that happens, the work stops being “someone else’s project” and becomes a collective mission to improve the world we live in. This is why building an innovation community matters: 1. It distributes creativity instead of centralizing it. The best solutions rarely come from the top—they come from those closest to the problem. A community approach invites everyone to contribute their lived diverse experiences insights and imagination. 2. It allows complex systems to move together. No social challenge—housing, climate resilience, transportation, or public safety—belongs to a single department or oganization. Innovation requires cross-sector collaboration, shared language, and common goals. 3. It strengthens trust and belonging. When residents and public servants co-create solutions, they build not just programs, but relationships. And those relationships are the foundation of resilient, responsive government that can help rebuild trust and belonging in our communities. 4. It sustains change long after the “project” ends. Tools, plans, and implementation are critical. But cultures—and communities—are what endure. Building a network of innovators creates long-term capacity that outlives any single leader, grant, or initiative. The future of government innovation depends on our ability to bring people together across roles, silos, and lived experiences—and helps them strengthen their agency in shaping the future. At Ascendant, we believe deeply in this kind of community-powered innovation. It’s how real progress happens. It’s how systems change. And it’s how we build cities, countries, and futures that truly reflect the people they serve. If we want a better world, we have to build it together.

Grassroots Innovation: Kaizen in Indian Street Engineering Workshops Street engineering workshops in India, found in market areas and narrow lanes, excel in grassroots innovation through kaizen, meaning continuous improvement. These small, family-run establishments understand customer needs and deliver simple, effective home-related solutions using basic mechanics. Here are some examples: 1. Improvised Spare Parts : When specific home appliance spare parts are unavailable or too expensive, street engineers fabricate parts using basic metalworking tools and local materials. This keeps appliances functional without costly imports or long waits. 2. Affordable Automation Solutions : For home-based businesses, street engineers develop simple automation solutions. These include motorized devices for sewing machines, automated irrigation systems for gardens using recycled materials, and mechanized tools for small-scale production. These solutions enhance productivity and reduce manual labor. 3. Cooling Solutions for Appliances : In regions with extreme heat, home appliances like fans and coolers often overheat. Street workshops devise simple cooling solutions, such as installing small fans powered by the appliance’s own power supply or creating custom vents for better air circulation. These modifications maintain performance and extend appliance life. 4. Noise Reduction in Home Equipment : Noise pollution from home equipment can be a nuisance. Street workshops offer noise-reducing solutions, such as adding custom mufflers, using rubber mounts to dampen vibrations, or retrofitting soundproofing materials around noisy components. These solutions significantly improve the home environment. 5. Water Pump Innovations : Efficient water pumps are critical for home gardens and small-scale farming. Street engineers innovate by modifying hand pumps to work with electric motors or creating hybrid systems that can switch between manual and motorized operation, ensuring reliable water access. 6. Enhanced Ergonomics for Tools : Home tools often need ergonomic adjustments to reduce user fatigue and improve efficiency. Street workshops modify handles, grips, and control systems to better suit individual needs, typically done on-site. The street engineering workshops of India embody kaizen through their continuous pursuit of better, simpler home-related solutions. Their deep connection with the community and understanding of customer problems enable effective innovation with limited resources, proving that impactful solutions often come from simple ideas #india #engineering #innovation #motivation #inspiration #design #education

In many nonprofits, innovation often mirrors privilege. Who gets to dream up solutions? Whose ideas are embraced as “bold” or “innovative”? Too often, decision-making is concentrated in leadership or external consultants, leaving grassroots, community-driven insights underutilized. This perpetuates inequity and stifles transformative potential within our own organizations. Here’s the truth: Privilege shapes perceptions of innovation: Ideas from leadership or external experts are often prioritized, while community-driven ideas are dismissed as “too risky” or “impractical.” Communities with lived experience are sidelined: Those who deeply understand systemic challenges are excluded from shaping the solutions meant to address them. The result? Nonprofits risk replicating the same inequities they aim to dismantle by ignoring the imaginative potential of those closest to the issues. When imagination is confined to decision-makers in positions of power, we limit our ability to create truly transformative solutions. As nonprofit practitioners, we can start shifting this dynamic by fostering equity within our organizations: * Redistribute decision-making power: Engage community members and frontline staff in brainstorming and strategic discussions. Elevate their voices in decision-making processes. * Value lived experience as expertise: Treat the insights of those who experience systemic challenges as central to innovation, not secondary. * Create space for experimentation: Advocate for internal processes that allow for piloting bold, community-driven ideas, even if they challenge traditional approaches. * Focus on capacity-mobilisation: Invest in staff and community partners through training, mentorship, and resources that empower them to lead imaginative projects. * Rethink impact metrics: Develop evaluation systems that prioritize community-defined success over traditional donor-centric metrics. What practices has your organization used to centre community-driven ideas? Share your insights—I’d love to learn from you! Want to hear more: https://lnkd.in/gXp76ssF

She couldn't finish her homework before dark. In the Wayúu communities of northern Colombia, sunset means the day ends. No grid. No generators. Just night. A Colombian startup, E-Dina, built a different kind of lamp. You pour in saltwater. Magnesium and copper plates do the rest — an electrochemical reaction that produces light. No fuel. No noise. No toxic batteries. The numbers: ↳ 500 ml of saltwater powers it for up to 45 days ↳ One unit delivers about 5,600 hours over its lifetime ↳ It charges small devices via USB ↳ Built for reuse, fully recyclable The chemistry is clever. But what stopped me is how they built it. E-Dina didn't design this in a city lab and ship it out. They worked with Wayúu families — around the problems they actually live with. A child studying after dark. A phone that stays charged during an outage. A backup light when storms hit. Not a gadget. A tool people can depend on when everything else goes dark. The Multiplication Effect: 1 home with steady light = kids can study after dark 10 coastal villages = emergency power without diesel 100 off-grid communities = electricity without waiting for infrastructure At scale = we stop asking who deserves power and start building where it's needed The ocean has always fed these communities. Now it lights their homes, too. The best innovations don't start where the resources are. They start where the problem is. Where have you seen proximity to a problem matter more than access to funding? Video Credit: Harald Friedl

While national agencies play a vital role, the true strength of disaster management often lies at the grassroots. Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) empowers local populations to become their own first responders, transforming vulnerability into collective resilience. When a disaster hits, local communities are the first on the scene, often before external aid can arrive. By equipping them with knowledge, skills, and resources, we foster self-reliance and accelerate effective response. This approach focuses on local risk assessment, tailored preparedness plans, and empowering community leaders who can coordinate efforts and disseminate information effectively. According to a systematic review of disaster management approaches, communities with CBDM plans experience up to 50% fewer casualties in disasters. This is a testament to the power of local knowledge and collective action. From remote villages in Pakistan organizing local flood watch groups, to Indigenous communities in Australia revitalizing traditional fire management techniques, CBDM leverages intimate local knowledge for powerful results. It's about collective ownership and shared safety that builds strength from the ground up. Is your community empowered to respond? Support community-based disaster management for a stronger, more resilient future. #CommunityResilience #CBDM #LocalAction #UNICEF

In 2018, while in Nicaragua, Buy Food with Plastic co-founder Khalil Radi came face-to-face with two crises unfolding side by side. Streets and coastlines were overwhelmed by plastic waste, while political instability had devastated local livelihoods. Tourism had collapsed, businesses had closed and many families were struggling to put food on the table. For people worried about feeding their children, plastic pollution was not the most urgent problem. Survival was. Instead of asking communities to prioritise one crisis over another, he and the team asked a different question: What if solving one problem could help solve another? That simple question became the foundation of Buy Food with Plastic, an initiative later co-led by Anna Gracia Herbst. The model was both practical and dignified. Community members could collect plastic bottles and exchange them for nutritious meals. The plastic would then be recycled locally into useful products, creating jobs and helping build a circular economy. What many viewed as worthless waste suddenly became a resource with value. As the initiative grew, local leaders stepped forward to shape it themselves. In India, Shakti Yadav, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, reached out through Instagram because he believed the concept could work in his own community. In Ghana, George Kwame Quansah saw the same potential and brought the idea to Elmina. The organisation often says, "we didn't choose the countries; they chose us." That philosophy reflects that sustainable impact happens when communities become co-creators, not beneficiaries. Innovation is not always about inventing something entirely new. Sometimes, it's about seeing value where others see waste. Seeing possibility where others see problems.And recognising that dignity should sit at the centre of every solution we build. "How can we solve this differently?" #Story #Power #SocialImpact #Sustainability

Standing in a bustling Seoul street last year, I watched something remarkable unfold. What started as a typical city block transformed into a canvas for environmental change, vibrant artwork surrounding drains, turning potential litter spots into visual reminders of our shared responsibility. This wasn't just street art. It was community engagement in action. In #SouthKorea 🇰🇷, our Philip Morris International Korea team partnered with local government, the Korea Green Foundation, and local artists to tackle cigarette butt litter differently. Instead of just organizing clean-ups, they created an ecosystem of change: 400+ volunteers collecting 300 bags of waste, students creating anti-littering artwork, and entire neighborhoods becoming part of the solution. What struck me most was the ripple effect. One clean-up event in Yangsan evolved into a year-round sustainability hub. By September, 666 volunteers had collected over 18,000 cigarette butts, but more importantly, sparked conversations that are changing behaviors. Meanwhile in #Tunisia 🇹🇳, a different challenge led to equally innovative collaboration. Young entrepreneurs at startup Wayout developed "Zigofiltres"—simple cages for drains that prevent flooding by capturing cigarette butt litter before it blocks waterways. 246 of these devices now protect one of Tunisia's most flood-prone municipalities. Two countries. Two different ways of addressing a same challenge. One powerful lesson: when business, government, local innovators, and communities work together, environmental problems become opportunities for creative solutions. #Sustainability isn't just about corporate initiatives—it's about creating platforms where local ingenuity can flourish. 🌱 ♥️ Link to full case study here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ePU_Bwkt #CommunityEngagement Cc: Borhann Rachdi, Abla Benslimane, Hannah Yun, Miguel Coleta, Maria V Agelvis, Kelly Lavender, Euigyum Hong

Community beats capital every time. After working with hundreds of founders through Bombay Founders' Club , I've noticed something profound: entrepreneurs who invest in relationships first consistently outperform those who chase funding alone. Here's what makes the difference: • Knowledge sharing cuts learning curves in half • Mentorship prevents expensive mistakes • Peer connections create unexpected partnerships Last month, two members secured a major partnership over coffee at our workshop. Another founder completely refined their go-to-market strategy through community feedback before meeting investors. This isn't luck—it's the natural result of collaborative ecosystems. Capital without community is just money. But community without capital can still build sustainable businesses. When founders share knowledge and mentor each other, they create something more valuable than any single investment: infrastructure for lasting success. The most successful entrepreneurs don't just build better companies—they build better ecosystems that elevate everyone. How much time are you investing in your network compared to your pitch deck? #community #startups #entrepreneurship