idealist.org

The mission of the Rapid Results Institute is to transform the way development work is carried out through a sharper focus on producing early results that strengthen local capacity for sustained progress. We do this by working at two levels:

-We work with public sector leaders in developing countries and with development professionals to foster an environment where innovators can use their energy and creativity to bring about early results and performance breakthroughs-which can then be scaled to tackle the long-term social and economic challenges that face their communities and nations.

We help these innovators and leaders create and leverage these performance breakthroughs by bringing to them cutting edge management tools that have been used in leading organizations around the world to foster results-oriented experimentation, achievement, and learning.

At the heart of our strategy are these fundamental beliefs:
-The latent capacity for creating and sustaining change exists in developing countries. The central challenge for local and national leaders is to mobilize this latent capacity and put it to work.
-The most durable solutions to economic and social challenges emerge through local innovation and experimentation-not from master blueprints and grandiose plans.
-Achieving real results fast is critical for building momentum, enthusiasm, and the capacity for managing large-scale change. Rapid results motivate groups to press forward on their journey-and also to illuminate the path toward long-term, sustainable progress.
-The way results are achieved is as important as the results themselves. By fostering an environment of ownership, accountability, and grass roots learning, the pursuit of rapid results can be leveraged as a transformative experience for the people involved.