How does the Incubator work?
This page outlines how the Incubator works and types of support offered. Contact the SC Incubator Team.
Incubator model & aim
Over years working in this field, we’ve witnessed the range of challenges our partners and practitioner network experience in working to achieve real narrative change. As a result, the need for a multi-faceted support structure became clear, which offers needs-driven support ranging from inspiring NGO partners in their early stages of this work, all the way to staged and longer-term support for those wishing to put a strategic communications approach at the heart of their work and organisations.
To maximise the impact of our work, we determined the incubator model as most suitable, and this involves identifying and working with ambitious partners not just to build capacity, but also to support those ready and able to put the infrastructure in place needed to achieve lasting narrative impact. ICPA provides a multi-faceted programme to incubate strategic communications initiatives with partners committed to working at scale to reframe debates and deliver policy change on key polarising issues, such as migration, integration and civic space.
How do we support partners?
Interested partners generally come to us with an expressed interest or specific need for support. Based on a process to negotiate the interests, needs, and best fit from the menu of Incubator support types provided, we offer a flexible framework for working with partners to professionalise their strategic communications thinking and practice. This flexible approach means we can offer support at different levels and intensity, ranging from short interventions to help partners take the next step in the process (e.g. a customised workshop or mentoring on one part of the process, such as message testing) to longer-term partnerships towards achieving the institutionalisation of strategic communications thinking and practice in an organisation or network (as is the case in the RESET project).
What types of support do we provide?
Embracing the key features of the incubator model, we provide supported partners with the following:
- space to experiment, reflect and learn;
- support through needs-driven advising, mentoring and training from a wide range of experts and through practice-centred resources and toolkits;
- community by fostering peer-based collaboration and connection to key actors in the movement.
Three interconnected, expert-led Resource Hubs provide the backbone of skill building, mentoring, tools, resources and networks in specific areas:
- Learning & Mentoring - The L&M Hub supports advocates and networks in a supported learning by doing process to effectively plan, design, implement and evaluate narrative change and strategic communications projects, campaigns and targeted interventions. In addition, the Hub collects lessons and insights from thinking and practice to develop practical resources and toolkits to support independent learning and action. Finally, the L&M Hub builds the capacity of teams of trainers and mentors to provide similar support, and thereby contribute to expanding the community of narrative change practitioners.
- Research & Evaluation – The R&E Hub supports advocates and campaigners to target, test and evaluate their narrative change projects and interventions. A solid evidence foundation and commitment to prove and improve in a step by step manner is at the heart of our approach. In addition to building capacity, the R&E Hub shares lessons, tools and good practice and convenes a broad range of interested practitioners interested in innovating in this area.
- Infrastructure – The Infrastructure Hub provides hands-on advice and mentoring to partners designing strategic communications strategies and programmes, especially those with a capacity building and coalition/movement building focus. Designing for impact and sustainable institutionalisation of strategic communications approaches are the priorities for the support provided. In addition, the Infrastructure Hub convenes a space for exchange and sharing experience in building suitable infrastructure at scale to achieve wide-reaching strategic communications targets.
In addition to the hubs, we draw on a wide network of seasoned international narrative change practitioners and partners who can provide support and services in more specific skill areas on a needs-basis, e.g. in campaigning, network building, traditional and social media work, etc