Use the scale up toolkit
The scale up toolkit
2:15 | transcript
The scale up toolkit
The toolkit includes four tools to be used at the planning stage: Behavioural prioritisation frameworks for picking the right behaviour, Feasibility testing frameworks to help pick feasible interventions, Prioritisation frameworks for picking the optimal type of intervention, and; Template and context mapping frameworks to help designing the optimal intervention
It includes one tool for use at the piloting stage: assumption testing frameworks for pilot-testing and de-risking interventions.
All tools have associated explainer videos and templates developed in Google Sheets.
How should you use these tools?
All tool are intended as minimum viable products: good enough to start with and improve on
They are not a mandatory set of steps; scale up has many different entry points so you might enter the process at very different stages.
Similarly, the tools are flexible, not fixed. Different projects have different tradeoffs; some seek speed at the cost of rigor and some seek lower costs at the cost of quality.
Tool #1: Picking the right behaviour
When to use this tool
You want to pick the best behaviour to target to address your problem
What you need to use this tool
A problem you are trying to solve
One or more behaviours that you could change
What you get after using this tool
Insight into the best behaviour(s) to target
A better understanding of trade-offs for between potential target behaviours
Notes
By right behaviour - we mean the one that is best for you and your team!
We recognise that sometimes you will need to target multiple behaviours - in this case you can adapt your use of the tool to pick more than one.
Leave feedback about the tool
Tool #2: Identifying a feasible intervention
When to use this tool
You want to know which existing interventions are feasible to pilot or implement
What you need for this tool
A target behaviour that you are trying to change
One or more interventions to change that behaviour
What you get from this tool
Insight into the intervention(s) worth testing
Insight into trade-offs between interventions
Notes
We suggest doing the feasibility and scalability assessments separately. The feasibility assessment is quicker and easier than the scalability assessment. Where therefore recommend that you use it to quickly whittle down options before you invest more effort to develop these interventions and assess their scalability. However, both assessments can also be combined - we have started developing a combined tool to do this - please view and evaluate here.
Tool #3: Picking a scalable intervention
When to use this tool
You want to know which interventions are most likely to scale
What you need for this tool
One or more feasible interventions
What you get from this tool
Insight into the potential scalability of your intervention
Insight into trade-offs between interventions
Notes
We suggest doing the feasibility and scalability assessments separately. The feasibility assessment is quicker and easier than the scalability assessment. Where therefore recommend that you use it to quickly whittle down options before you invest more effort to develop these interventions and assess their scalability. However, both assessments can also be combined - we have started developing a combined tool to do this - please view and evaluate here.
Tool #4: Designing the optimal intervention
When to use this tool
Need to adapt an existing intervention to your local context, but not sure how
Need to design a novel intervention based on BI principles and want to build on the most similar prior work
What you need for this tool
A planned intervention
A related intervention in a different context
What you get from this tool
A detailed design plan for your intervention
Explicit assumptions, risks, and gaps in knowledge for testing
Notes
In our view, it is rarely the case that there isn't related prior work that it would be best to learn from, however in such cases you may benefit from considering how to use reviews, surveys and focus groups to understand the target audience and their barriers and drivers for behaviour.
You can use prior work to inform your intervention alongside other diagnostic/intervention development approaches such as surveys and interviews - this is almost certainly the best option if viable. We don't mention this here as it seems less commonly overlooked that the possibility of building on other work.
You may need to revert back to reconsider feasibility and scalability options as you develop your intervention.
Tool #5: Reducing uncertainty using assumption testing
When to use this tool
You are about to use a novel intervention / adapt an existing in field or at scale
You have identified risks or assumptions for scale up from other tools
What you need for this tool
A designed intervention and a plan for trialling or implementing it
Capacity to test the intervention by collecting data from target audience
What you get from this tool
A process to test key risks/assumptions during pilot or trial
Notes
Though most associated with the pilot testing phase, this tool can be used at any stage of the scale up process. For instance, at the planning phase, your very first key assumption might be that you have a chance of getting funded to scale up your intervention. This assumption might then be tested by quickly contacting a few potential funders.