For SEED, systems strengthening is not a technical exercise detached from lived realities. It is a people-centred process that recognises: schools are run by people; policies are implemented by people; and systems succeed or fail based on human relationships. We therefore approach systems strengthening as the work of enabling practitioners, communities, and institutions to navigate complexity, adapt to reform, and collaborate effectively. SEED delivers its strengthening initiatives through:

Building Institutional Capacity from the Ground Up

SEED works with school leaders, education practitioners, associations, and system actors to strengthen institutional capacity at multiple levels. This includes:

• Supporting school owners and head teachers to understand and respond to regulatory and policy requirements

• Strengthening organisational practices that improve school sustainability, accountability, and quality while also navigating registration and approval processes, and adopting continuous improvement practices.

• Supporting associations and networks to coordinate, self-organise, and engage constructively with government

Our approach recognises schools and associations as active system actors, not passive recipients of reform.

Supporting Government–Community System Alignment

We support governments to design and implement reforms that work with, not against, the realities of frontline education providers. We also partner with federal and state education institutions to enhance their ability to use evidence, tools, and processes that support data-informed planning, policy implementation, and quality assurance. This includes:

• Translating policy intent into practical implementation pathways

• Facilitating dialogue between regulators and non-state education actors

• Identifying friction points where policy design clashes with lived system realities

• Supporting adaptive approaches to reform implementation

By strengthening alignment between government institutions and grassroots actors, SEED helps reduce implementation gaps and unintended consequences.

Strengthening Networks and Collective Capacity

SEED places strong emphasis on collective capacity, recognising that individual institutions are stronger when they are part of coordinated systems. We invest in strengthening school associations and networks so they can effectively represent their members, engage with policymakers, and support quality improvements across member schools. We support:

• Grassroots school networks and associations

• Multi-actor coalitions and collectives

• Peer learning, knowledge exchange, and joint problem-solving

Through initiatives such as the All Hands on Deck Collective, SEED helps create platforms where practitioners and communities can build shared understanding, articulate common challenges, and co-develop system-level solutions.

Why People-Powered Systems Strengthening Matters

Education reforms often fail not because they are poorly intended, but because they underestimate the human and institutional capacity required to implement them. SEED’s people-powered approach ensures that:

• Policies are implementable in real contexts

• Institutions are equipped to sustain change

• Communities see themselves as part of the system, not outside it

By strengthening people, relationships, and institutions together, we contribute to education systems that are resilient, adaptive, and equitable.

Working With SEED

SEED partners with government agencies, school networks, associations, and community-based actors to strengthen education systems that serve underserved learners. We welcome collaboration with organisations committed to people-centred, evidence-informed, and system-wide education reform.