One of the most frequently cited reflections on strategy is: “The best 
way to predict the future is to create it”. So what does creating the 
future look like? It goes far beyond isolated innovations. Think of 
how by creating the first commercially available electric light bulbs, 
Thomas Edison then needed to develop the electrical grids needed 
to power them. Innovation at scale isn’t just about making products, 
it’s about building the platforms and infrastructure that others can 
build upon.

National Partners (NPs) are active market builders. Now more than 
ever, boldness, creativity, and courage are required to shape the 
transition toward an impact economy. 


This guide combines frameworks, decision-making tools, case 
studies, and references to other GSG Impact resources to support 
NPs in moving from ecosystem diagnosis to a credible, outcome
driven three-year strategy.

Most strategic plans are inward-looking: they focus on 
an organisation’s structure, activities, and efficiency. This 
document is different. It is designed to help NPs develop 
outward-looking, systemic strategies that not only strengthen 
the National Partner itself, but also build an impact economy.  
 It provides National Partners with a step-by-step guide to 
create strategies that are adaptive, outcome-oriented, and 
politically relevant

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This guide lays out a step-by-step process that NPs can follow from start to finish. It can be used independently, or as part of a facilitated strategy process with GSG Impact or external facilitators.

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Each phase contains clear steps that outline what to do and in what order, practical tools and templates, examples from other National Partners showing how peers have approached similar challenges, and pointers to GSG Impact resources that provide deeper detail on specific topics

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This guide is written primarily for National Partners. The strategy process will typically be led by the board and might involve reviewing governance arrangements (e.g. creating additional working groups) to ensure delivery.
Taskforces can also use the guide effectively, even without a formal governance structure. The strategy process can inform how their future governance model should be structured.