Climate & Environment
Systemic Change
Definition
Systemic change is transformation of the underlying structures, rules, incentives, power relationships and mental models of a system, rather than adjustment of its outputs: changing how the food, energy or finance system works, not just mitigating its harms. In sustainability and development practice it distinguishes interventions that shift system behaviour durably — market systems development, policy reform, norm change — from projectised delivery that reverts when funding ends.
References
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This reference provides supporting context for how “Systemic Change” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The framework structures foundation and donor strategy, market systems programmes, transition management, and theories of change aiming at durable transformation.
Why it matters
Sustainability problems are systemic by nature; interventions that do not change systems merely schedule the problem's return.