Empowering Growth through System Partnerships – The Dost Case Study

Introduction

In the realm of responsive caregiving, Dost has emerged as a significant player. However, like many organizations in its field, Dost faced challenges in scaling its model. Initially, Dost was directly engaging with parents through volunteers, which posed limitations in expansion. Recognizing these challenges, we embarked on a journey with Dost to enhance the scalability of their model. Our strategic guidance reshaped their approach, emphasizing a Business-to-Government (B2G) strategy to reach parents at scale.

B2G Strategy Development

The first step in our journey was assisting Dost in formulating a robust B2G strategy. This strategy was not merely about expanding the scale of operations but also about ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided. The B2G strategy opened new avenues for reaching parents efficiently, allowing Dost to bypass the limitations it had previously encountered.

Operational Support

Our support for Dost was not limited to strategy development. We provided ongoing support for their core operations, helping them navigate the complexities of implementing a B2G strategy. Our collaboration extended to government partnerships, bridging the Education and ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) departments. This collaboration was crucial in ensuring that Dost’s services reached the intended beneficiaries.

System Partnership Strategy

In addition to operational support, we worked with Dost to design a system partnership strategy. This strategy was aimed at identifying and leveraging influential champions within the system. Through this strategy, we were able to identify eight influential champions within the system in the Utarakhand (UK) and Rajasthan (RJ). These champions played a crucial role in furthering Dost’s mission and expanding its reach.

Scaling Impact

The impact of our collaboration with Dost is best illustrated by the numbers. In 2021, Dost worked with 20,000 parents. However, through strategic system partnerships, their reach has grown exponentially. Today, Dost impacts over 200,000 parents across the UK, RJ, UP (Uttar Pradesh), and JH (Jharkhand). This tenfold increase in reach is a testament to the effectiveness of the strategies we developed and implemented.

Conclusion

Our journey with Dost is a testament to the power of strategic planning and collaboration. By focusing on a B2G strategy, providing operational support, and designing a system partnership strategy, we were able to help Dost overcome its scalability challenges. The result is a responsive caregiving model that now reaches ten times the number of parents it did just a few years ago, demonstrating the potential for similar organizations to scale their impact through strategic planning and collaboration.