Backcasting tool

To build a pathway-to-impact map for an innovative food system solution, please work through the questionnaire sections on the next pages and follow the instructions along the way.

This tool has been designed to be used by an individual or with a team to better understand the WHAT, WHEN, and HOW of moving a solution (or set of solutions) towards uptake for major impact for a desired outcome.

This process can be carried out as a quick “snapshot” exercise (~20-30 min) or could be worked with at a much deeper level of detail, for example over the course of several hours or days in a workshop with a group or team of key stakeholders for a specific setting and context.

Before you begin…

  • Brainstorm first - Download the self-guided worksheet before you use the online tool. We especially recommend this in case there are internet bandwidth challenges in your context to prevent the loss of your work online before you submit your pathway. *Both file formats are sized for A4 printing in either black x white or color.
    Download worksheet here (PDF) Download worksheet here (DOCX)
  • Once you start (online), don’t stop! When you begin to work through the tool questionnaire online to build your pathway-to-impact map, you must complete and submit the map to save it to the portal (and to download the a PDF of your map, if you choose). At this time, we do not offer the option of saving and returning later to complete.
  • Share and inspire others - After just a quick review by the IFSS portal research team to make sure there is no off-topic or inappropriate content, pathway-to-impact maps will be published on each solution profile page as well as in the “Gallery of Pathway Maps”. We hope that this helps to share ideas and inspire others to move towards action in their settings.
  • Your opinion matters! We are excited to learn how it works for you and how we can improve this tool kit. Please reach out with any questions and send us feedback at IFSSportal@gainhealth.org
Scroll to pathway

Select the solution you would like to build a pathway for

Privacy and Terms and Conditions

Confirm that you consent to the storage of your email and other information provided to us through this form for communication purposes. You have the right to withdraw your consent if you no longer desire for us to store your information.

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR DATA

IFSS portal is committed to protecting the privacy of the user and assures that personal data will only be processed in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations.

TELL US WHO YOU ARE

1. Your name

2. Name of your organisation

What do you want to appear on the pathway?

Please select at least one option

3. E-mail address

Do you want to publish your e-mail address on the pathway?

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SOLUTION

1. Location

2. Context

Please provide some information on the context for this pathway, for example "rural semi-arid region" or "urban coastal area" or "deep-sea marine environment".

Max. 5 words 5 words left

3. Current solution readiness (maturity status)

Please select one of the following to indicate how mature this solution is in the country/context you are building a pathway for. *Please refer to the Glossary > Solution Readiness for an explanation of the five maturity types.

Imagine it is 2030 and this innovation is effectively used in your setting.

It has had a major positive impact in making affordable, safe & nutritious foods available in an environmentally sustainable way, helping to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for both human dietary and planetary health. Keep in mind that it does not have to be used everywhere in your setting, but focus on how and where it may have the most positive impact.

We encourage you to think of this innovation as part of a larger strategy for addressing these critical SDGs in your setting. Don’t worry - for the moment - about barriers, challenges or limitations as we will ask you to address this in later questions.

1. “So What?!”

In 10-15 words please give a subtitle for the major impact you envision this solution having in 2030. For example, for the solution “hydroponics”, a “so what” subtitle could be “increasing urban food production and access to fresh produce while lowering transport costs and pollution”.
Max. 15 words 15 words left

2. Vision statement: what does “major positive impact” of this solution look like in 2030?

Max. 45 words 45 words left
Max. 15 words 15 words left
Max. 20 words 20 words left
Max. 20 words 20 words left
Max. 20 words 20 words left

3. Leapfrogging

Does this solution have a high potential to “leapfrog” - to by-pass linear or stepwise improvements such that by using this solution, the impact would be several generations ahead of current approaches? For example, mobile networks in some countries have leapfrogged the need to build landline networks, making connectivity for millions of people available much faster and in much less expensive ways than had they waited for landline phone/internet infrastructure.
Max. 15 words 15 words left
Now that you have envisioned this innovation as an effective game changer in your setting by 2030, we want to work towards mapping out a pathway for how to get there.

In this section, we ask you to identify both key steps, as well as possible barriers along the way, along with strategies to overcome those barriers (if possible to identify and define).
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
  • You can include up to 20 elements (steps / barriers+strategies) using this tool
  • When you’re done drafting your pathway towards impact map, you will have a chance to review what you’ve done and decide if you want to go back and modify anything (change the order of steps/barriers, add or remove something, etc) before saving and sharing your pathway to the portal solution page

Pathway

Go ahead and begin building your pathway towards impact by choosing what you want to do first.
At least 1 key step and 1 barrier/strategy are required, beyond that it’s optional to add more

Pathway
BEFORE YOU PUBLISH
  • Before you finalize and save your pathway map, you can PREVIEW what you’ve done so far..
  • If you would like to change or adjust anything, please use the button on the LEFT below to adjust the order of the key steps or make changes to barriers / solutions OR use the section numbers on the left.
Revision information

Do you have any questions

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