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The 'Project' is Kwanda's primary way to scale sustainable long-term solutions in communities and beyond.

A project is comprised of a 4-layer stack. When combined thoughtfully, they lead to meaningful long-term results.

In this article, we'll break down the project stack we've developed.

What is the stack?

The four layers of our project stack are:

✋🏿 Solution
🤝🏿 Partners
💵 Capital
🌍 Villagers

Each layer itself has an underlying subset of elements.

Solution layer

The solution layer is the critical foundational layer of the project stack. The wrong solution would lead to us working very efficiently in the wrong direction.

A good solution has the following elements, which form a sub-stack:

✋🏿 Solution
Innovative Approach: Offers a new or improved approach to an existing problem, demonstrating creativity and fresh thinking.
Sustainable Impact: Designed to create long-term, lasting change rather than short-term fixes. The solution should have the potential for continued impact beyond initial funding.
Scalable or Replicable: Has the potential to grow or be adapted to benefit other communities facing similar challenges.
Financially Viable: Has a clear, realistic plan for using capital effectively and potentially attracting additional resources for sustainability.
Culturally Relevant: Respects and incorporates local cultural values and practices in its approach.
Empowering: Aims to build capacity within the affected community, enabling people to take charge of their own development.

Partner layer

The next layer in the project stack is the partner. Projects may have a single partner or multiple partners working to implement the solution; in either case, each partner similarly has a set of required elements, forming its own sub-stack:

🤝🏿 Partners
Local: Are embedded in the community they aim to serve. This ensures implementation is tailored to local needs and contexts.
Transparent and Accountable: Have clear mechanisms for tracking progress, measuring impact, and ensuring responsible use of resources.
Collaborative: Are open to collaborating and knowledge-sharing with adjacent partners and/or the Kwanda team for greater impact.
Value-aligned: Reflect Kwanda's principles of empowerment, transparency, and community-driven change.

Capital layer

Once we have a clear idea of the solution and the right partner(s) to implement it, we kindle the fire with the stack's third layer, capital.

This capital may come directly from our philanthropic fund or partner funds.

💵 Capital
Village fund: Capital raised from our treasury.
Partner funds: Capital raised from external partners or funds.

Villager layer

Finally, the project stack is concluded with the fourth layer, our villager network. A community of skilled professionals, volunteers, advocates, and entrepreneurs committed to solving long-term challenges.

Villagers may contribute to project development in a few ways:

🌍 Villagers
Implementation: Acting as a field volunteer or in a professional capacity to aid project implementation.
Advisory: Acting in an advisory capacity to increase the speed of development and innovation.
Research: Gathering data and submitting research to bolster knowledge in and around the project.
Advocacy: Raising awareness around the solution and the problem.

Fin.

Projects are ultimately designed to iterate and innovate forward as more knowledge is gained and shared. More capital is made available, and more villagers and their skills are engaged in the project's lifecycle.

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