Shift the Power

03_WeRobotics_illustration_System_Change_LoRes

Our endgame is to contribute to systems change in the “Technology for Good” space and beyond by shifting power with local organizations at scale. We do this by enabling the adoption of the replicable models we are co-creating with and for the Flying Labs Network.

We are one of many. Our Shift-the-Power efforts are part of a larger movement.

Systems change is about tackling the root causes of unjust systems. We founded WeRobotics to counter the foreign-first, top-down, and techno-centric approach that pervades the social good sector, from aid and development to health and the environment. As others have said before us, the goal of the social good sector must be to end need, not just meet need. This means, for example, that international organizations (including small ones like WeRobotics) must have a transition plan that is “centered around devolving power, money and voice to local organizations.” On this page, we share our strategies and progress towards shifting our own power as well as our contribution to systems change towards a more equal, diverse and inclusive power balance in the international aid and development sectors.

A bit of history

As a first step, and doing so with two distinct entities from day one (WeRobotics and Flying Labs), we co-created the Flying Labs Network along with the inclusive models that power the network. Flying Labs are independent and locally-led knowledge hubs that combine local expertise with emerging technologies to accelerate our collective pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, Flying Labs are operational in 30+ countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Flying Labs Network continues to grow with new Flying Labs joining every quarter.

By co-creating and enabling this network, we have already changed how business is done in the “Drones-for-Good” space by shifting opportunities and value, and thus power to local experts and organizations.

Localization – a success story

The majority of localization efforts have failed. This one continues to shine.

We co-authored this detailed study to share our own practical, operational and successful approach to localization. We hope that our first-hand learnings and failures will be of value to others who seek to shift power by expanding locally-led action.

This study draws on 5+ years of close collaboration with 200+ proximate leaders and dozens of local organizations in 30+ countries.

The Flying Labs Network is a highly rewarding and collective achievement, albeit not our endgame. We want to contribute to systems change, which explains the following 3 integrated strategies: Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Networks and Inclusive Power.

Integrated Strategy

The combination of the Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Networks and the Inclusive Power strategies will serve as our concrete and measurable contribution to overall systems change. As each of these interconnected strategies begin to bear fruit, we will document our collective learnings in the form of the Power Shift Canvas and Handbook. The Canvas and accompanying Handbook will summarize our experiences and learnings (both success and failures) and provide a step-by-step hands-on guide openly available for other organizations. By documenting our systems change approach in a digestible, easy-to-follow format based on lived experience, we want to pave the way for a high number of other international organizations to shift their power with a set of readily applicable and tested solutions.

Inclusive Leadership

WeRobotics has served as the primary enabler of the Flying Labs Network since its co-creation 5 years ago. It is now time to take the next logical step to expand the positive impact of the network by co-creating an independent and locally-led enabler and facilitator of the Network. Expanding this impact requires a shift in power. Our collective plan with Flying Labs is therefore to co-create an independent legal entity (FlyingLabs.org), and for this entity to become the primary enabler of the Network. To ensure the success of this transition and the sustainability of the Network, we have planned for a transition period of 4 years.

Inclusive Networks

The Flying Labs Network is just one example of an Inclusive Network. Other organizations can also co-create their own Inclusive Network for their localisation strategies and more importantly, to shift their power, by drawing on the inclusive models that have powered the Flying Labs Network for the past 5+ years. Multiple international organizations have already expressed an interest in doing just this.

Inclusive Power

We co-created the Flying Labs Network and the Inclusive Networks model because we want to reduce our “power footprint”. A power footprint is the disproportionate power that Western-based international organizations have gained over local organizations in the social good industries of humanitarian aid, global development and beyond. The Power Pledge calls on executives of Western-based organizations to measure and reduce their power footprint.

Our endgame is to contribute to systems change in the “Technology for Good” space and beyond by shifting power with local organizations at scale. We do this by enabling the adoption of the replicable models we are co-creating with and for the Flying Labs Network.

We are one of many. Our Shift-the-Power efforts are part of a larger movement.

A bit of history

Localization – a success story

The Flying Labs Network is a highly rewarding and collective achievement, albeit not our endgame. We want to contribute to systems change, which explains the following 3 integrated strategies: Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Networks and Inclusive Power.

Integrated Strategy

Inclusive Leadership

Inclusive Networks

Inclusive Power

Get Involved!

Read our blog posts on “Shift the Power”