Government as the Doer: What It Really Takes to Fund and Deliver at Scale
Event Description
There is growing consensus that lasting impact requires working with government. But far less attention is paid to what that actually entails in practice, especially when it comes to financing, capacity, and long-term delivery.
Too often, “government partnership” means small technical assistance teams, short-term pilots, or policy alignment that never translates into real system change. The reality is far more demanding. Making government the true payer and doer at scale requires sustained investment in institutions, from workforce training and management systems to incentives, data infrastructure, and years of implementation.
This discussion takes an honest look at the gap between ambition and reality. What does it actually cost to embed solutions across entire systems, not just pilot districts? How can governments move from co-creation to co-investment, with clear financial commitments and accountability? And what role should funders play in supporting this slower, more complex path to scale?
Grounded in real-world experience, this session will explore how to unlock sustainable government financing, strengthen Social–Public Partnerships, and ensure that systems change is not just a narrative, but a funded and deliverable reality.
Speakers
Chris Nicoletti is Chief Impact & Strategy Officer at Splash, leading global strategy to scale high-quality WASH and menstrual health programs.
Christopher Turillo is Co-Founder of Medha, enabling youth in India to build rewarding careers through large-scale, evidence-backed programs.
Eleanor Sykes is Advocacy Lead at Lively Minds, advancing early childhood development through parent-focused education initiatives.
Miranda Buba is Director of Programmes and Advocacy at Lafiya Nigeria, strengthening last-mile access to health services for women.
Rob Hope is Professor of Water Policy at the University of Oxford, advancing sustainable finance solutions for water and climate resilience.
Discussion Questions
What does it actually cost to make government the primary funder and implementer of solutions at scale?
How can governments move from symbolic partnership to real financial commitment and ownership?
What are the limitations of current technical assistance models, and what needs to change to achieve true system transformation?
How can funders better support long-term institutional capacity, rather than short-term pilots and outputs?