Key lessons for Systems Change Practitioners

The case study, based on Ilifa’s body of work, contributes to a collective and cumulative body of operational knowledge that can support systems change catalysts to shift system dynamics and expand their toolkits. This learning brief is designed to capture the key lessons for systems change actors, including practitioners, funders, and policymakers, drawing on the experience and impact of Ilifa’s work across the South African ECD ecosystem.

It seeks to provide systems change practitioners with practical lessons for implementing systems change, and acts as a point of discussion for evaluating the role organisations such as Ilifa can play in bringing about systems change.

Related Publications

Policy brief 

Jun 2026

Does Enrolment in Early Learning Programmes Improve Cognitive Outcomes? Evidence from Three South African Provinces

Working paper 

Jun 2026

Cognitive Gains from Early Learning Programme Enrolment in Three South African Provinces: Analysis of the 2024 Thrive by Five Index

Policy brief , Video 

Jun 2026

Cognitive gains from early learning enrolment in three South African provinces