PITFALL 1
Moving too
fast, too soon
WHY IT'S A PROBLEM
Rushing adaptation can compromise quality, impact, and trust. Hasty decisions often lead to harmful missteps, wasted resources, and costly course corrections, straining relationships between partners and the communities they aim to serve.
LEARNING
Take time to listen, learn and build
HOW THE PITFALL WAS OVERCOME
When adapting a legal empowerment programme from Brazil to Cabo Verde, two Global South partner organisations and a Global North funder took a full year to do things right. They spent time learning the approach, understanding the new context, building trust, and planning for the changes needed.
They also unlearned ways of working that no longer served the programme’s goals. While a year-long inception isn’t always possible, taking time at the start to listen, learn, and plan is essential for meaningful adaptation.
