From Programs to Public Systems: Enabling Government Ownership

​Event Description

​Many social innovations demonstrate strong results in pilot settings, yet far fewer successfully transition into government-owned systems. The challenge is not just proving that something works, but designing solutions that governments can adopt, fund, and sustain over time.

​This discussion focuses on the realities of moving from field implementation to government ownership. What breaks when programs expand beyond small-scale pilots? How do organizations navigate the operational, political, and behavioral challenges that come with embedding solutions into public systems?

​We will explore what it takes to strengthen the government–civil society compact, from building usable evidence for decision-making to aligning with government incentives, budgets, and institutional constraints. The session will also examine trade-offs between fidelity and flexibility, and how emerging tools, including AI, can support frontline service delivery in practical ways.

​Grounded in practitioner experience, this conversation will go beyond theory to unpack what actually works, what does not, and what it takes to ensure that innovations become part of durable, locally led public systems.

​Speakers

• ​Amandine Muret is Chief Development Officer at 1001fontaines.

• ​Daphne Sorensen is CEO of MiracleFeet, scaling access to treatment for clubfoot through national health systems.

• ​Devyani Pershad is Chief Program Officer at Pratham International.

• ​Gunjan Veda is Global Secretary and Executive Director (US) at the Movement for Community-Led Development, advancing equitable, locally led development systems.

• ​Emily Bensen is CEO of Integrate Health, advancing equitable access to high-quality healthcare globally.

• ​Scott Roy is CEO and Co-founder of Whitten & Roy Partnership, supporting organisations to scale impact through social enterprise models.

​Discussion Questions

​What are the biggest challenges in moving from pilot programs to government-owned systems, and how can they be addressed?

​How can solutions be designed from the start to align with government priorities, incentives, and constraints?

​What kind of evidence is most useful for governments when making decisions about adoption and funding?

​How do organizations navigate the trade-offs between maintaining program quality and adapting to different contexts within public systems?