Networks are the incredible, invisible forces with the potential to reshape our world. They enable us to address complex problems, rapidly spread innovations, and mobilize billions to shift power and mindsets.

Globally, 1000’s of networks, movements, and community action groups are piloting norm-breaking approaches by leveraging relationships for social change. Yet nearly all are under-funded, disconnected and highly misunderstood.

The Fito Network was launched to change that. As a diverse global network of hundreds of network leaders – and the funders and conveners that support them – our goal is to work together to reshape the way we make change.

And to help you realize that you are not alone.

Our launch event will explore the concept of “networks-of-networks”

These are networks that unite diverse networks themselves for shared learning, experimentation, and social change – often achieving more than each network could achieve on their own. Together we will explore:

• What is a network of networks? How is it different (and similar) to a “typical” network?
• Why it is important to bring different networks together? What broad-scale impact can we achieve that we aren’t seeing now?
• How should we invest in network of networks? What are the right strategies and tools to support?
• What can we start doing together immediately to work towards this potential impact?

We will use our signature “dinner table dialogue”, where speakers engage in rich and personable debate – and we bring in audience voices through creative, participatory mechanisms.

After the event, we’ll leave the room open for an additional 30 minutes for those who want to continue to dialogue and connect.

With an incredible line-up of speakers

Network leaders, thinkers, and doers from across the world, actively experimenting with networks-of-networks around the globe, including:

• Daniella Hiche, RACI
• Hileena Eshetu, IFC
• Paul Basil, Villgro
• June Holley, Weaving Institute
• Brendon Johnson, Fito Network
• Katie Davies, Ignite Philanthropy
• Nono Sekhoto, African Leadership Academy
• Darius Polok, iacBerlin
• Pauline Laravoire, Y-East

What you can expect

Key audience takeaways will focus on:

• What are the typical activities that make up a network of networks?
• How do members of network of networks communicate, engage, build trust, and make decisions collectively?
• How can we connect different people doing creative things, to learn and share to achieve common goals?
• What are the best ways to support and fund a network-of-networks?

Fito (“fee-toh”), from the Sesotho language in Southern Africa, means “joining diverse pieces to make one powerful effort”.

We are weaving an inclusive and diverse coalition of network leaders, community coordinators, capacity builders, and supportive funders to increase their collective impact and reshape the way we make change.

Together, we aim to:

• Learn deeply, bridging diverse knowledge for peer support and innovation
• Experiment collaboratively around new methods and cross-network models for impact
• Shift the support ecosystem, increasing resourcing and valorizing networks as essential to social change

REGISTER HERE

Learn more about what we are trying to do, and sign up to stay updated or join our network.