Success Story: Brokering Connections, Building Community in a Global Network

Partnerships, events, contacts, and the virtual backbone of the CSII system, accessible at www.innovationforchange.net, enable the Helper Hub to provide customized support to various regions while building a global architecture of resources and platforms. The CSII Helper Hub fosters a diverse network ecosystem that promotes exchanges among members from different regions to achieve the end goals of each of the seven hubs. Regional innovation labs, the yearly Inter-Regional Retreat, and collaborations with partner organizations create a vibrant and robust network where members interact and exchange products, services, resources, and information with one another and external partners. This dynamic develops rich connections among network members living on opposite sides of the world, enabling events like the Kazakhstan Innovation Lab to reach a global audience. Regional hubs, with Helper Hub support, are taking the lead in establishing partnerships with the private sector. For instance, in March 2019, Juan Carlos Lozano, founder of Innpactia, a social enterprise based in Colombia that connects projects to funding, presented the first concept note to bring Innpactia to Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This event demonstrates the importance of a resource broker, like the Helper Hub, in facilitating partnerships and exchanges that further the mission of each innovation hub and enhance their programmatic impact. The exchanges that take place throughout the network contribute to the sustainability of the larger network. This diversity of thought and sharing creates more viable and testable solutions for tackling civic space challenges. The CSII Helper Hub's role in brokering connections and interactions has been instrumental in promoting a collaborative and inclusive approach to addressing these challenges. The CSII system's virtual backbone, accessible at www.innovationforchange.net, provides online resources, knowledge sharing, and technology tools to penetrate closed or closing spaces. This platform enables network members to access tools, resources, and services, further enhancing their programmatic impact and contributing to the sustainability of the network.