Imago Global Grassroots – Creating joint strategies of scaling up and self reliance

Areas of Work

Human Resources

Support organizations going to scale to identify the gaps between their current human resource practices and those needed to meet the demands of an expanded mission. Read More about “Human Resources”…

Operations

Advise organizations on technical innovations and the system design that will allow the organizations to scale in a sustainable way. Read More about “Operations”…

Strategy

Help identify strategic tensions and accompany organizations through the process of formulating the scaling up vision and the strategy. Read More about “Strategy”…

Testimonials

IMAGO is working with some of the most inspiring grassroots organizations and social enterprises and focusing on their toughest issues around scaling. Working with IMAGO has been one of the most exciting and illuminating experiences I’ve had in grad school. IMAGO has provided me with amazing mentors like Isabel Guerrero and Michael Walton, who put a lot of trust in me. IMAGO also has shown me the promise in grassroots development, as well as the complexity in scaling such organizations. I feel very grateful to have been a part of this effort.

Taylor RayIntern

This is the second year when SEWA was fortunate to get inputs from IMAGO. SEWA understood or realised the strength of cocreation! As a result IMAGO and SEWA put RUDI on the path of scaling up. SEWA’s urban organising teams are cocreating joint strategies of scaling up and self reliance simultaneously. SEWA’s grassroot leaders and organisors are now excited with data – collection, analysis and use!

Reemaben Nanavathy, Director of SEWA (Self-Employed Women Association), 2015

The Imago workshop was an uplifting, positive, engaging, energy-oozing, self-reflecting experience for SRIJANites. Each person, from the oldest to the youngest, felt valued and engaged. We thoroughly enjoyed what was one of the most intellectually stimulating and most interactive workshop environments we have ever experienced. The scaling up framework gave us new ways of running our business. Since many and if not most NGOs are today at a crossroads, the choice of case study was on the dot. We had better look out for a revenue model, rather than a grant!

Ved Arya, SRIJAN

IMAGO’s co-creative way of working helped me realize that strategies are strongest when taking into account all the different stakeholders and voices. This means taking time to talk to people, to ask questions, to listen, and to see before rushing into conclusions and recommendations. When I worked with IMAGO supporting SEWA in India, we focused not only on understanding the organizational challenges, but also on how the SEWA women lived and how being a member of SEWA had changed them. Finally, the best thing about working in IMAGO was to be constantly reminded that heart is key to the development challenges.

Lucila ArboleyaIntern

Through my work with SEWA, I grew to truly appreciate the IMAGO way. IMAGO’s methodology of co-creating and working directly with grassroots on the ground sets it apart from other development organizations. For me personally, it was truly a transformative experience to be able to learn from women who had benefited from and protected the SEWA way of life for generations. Every day in India and DC was filled with dynamic interviews, focus groups, and challenging but productive problem-solving sessions with the IMAGO team. The IMAGO management and board, who come from a wide variety of geographies and functions, imparted colorful wisdom that not only informed our work but also my career ambitions. I am truly grateful for my experience with IMAGO, it has been the highlight of my graduate school career!

Kerry YangIntern

Recent Projects

IMAGO Global Grassroots is committed to working with grassroots organizations and their members to transform poverty into dignity and material well-being. We work around the world with existing organizations to enhance their strengths, build their capacity, and scale up their impact in a way that respects their unique context, attributes and evolution.
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