Vikāra Institute’s Post

🌀 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗦𝗦𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 🔥 From futures thinking to AI, from fragile contexts to circular economies - Day 2 at Market Systems Symposium was all about what it means to adapt faster and think further ahead. The Durban ICC was buzzing with ideas, connections, and serious momentum. We began with plenary interview by Margie Brand on 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, featuring powerful case studies from Mercy Corps (agriculture) and Habitat for Humanity International (housing), showing how shifting from project delivery to systems facilitation is transforming both sectors. These conversations grounded the day in real examples of systems change in motion. Then came the 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆, where Deon Cloete (SAIIA), and Mike Field (Vikāra Institute) applied the Three Horizons Framework to development challenges - exploring how to balance the urgent needs of today with the transformations needed for tomorrow. Breakouts took that thinking into action: 🌍 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘀 - how to build resilience amid disruption. 🌿 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 - from circular models to green jobs. 🌐 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 - linking local value chains into global networks. 🚀 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 - building sustainable pipelines for MSMEs. The afternoon 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 were electric with dozens of tools in action. From 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 and 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 to 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, delegates traded frameworks, lessons, and field-tested methods with infectious enthusiasm. We closed with a thought-provoking plenary debate on 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 - unpacking how artificial intelligence could transform (or fracture) the development landscape. Is AI the great accelerator - or the next disruptor? The discussion was lively, nuanced, and deeply relevant. 💡 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 If Day 1 was about how systems thinking can support shifting power to local, Day 2 showed how systems thinking helps us navigate what’s next - connecting the dots between technology, green transitions, and adaptive leadership. The future belongs to those who can link innovation to inclusion - turning disruption into opportunity. #MSS2025 #MarketSystems #FuturesThinking #CircularEconomy #AdaptiveDevelopment