C3
Collaboration for Complex Challenges
C3 Fellowship and Labs
Addressing complex systemic challenges
Our greatest global challenges are deeply interconnected, yet we often address them in silos
C3 connects leaders across sectors to tackle global challenges collaboratively
C3 is a multi-partner collaboration led by UNDP in partnership with FAO, UNEP and Wageningen University and Research. Funding is being provided by the Global Environment Facility.
THE CHALLENGE
A world under pressure
The world faces a range of deeply inconnected challenges that cannot be adequately addressed with single-point solutions.
Unsustainable economic models, climate and ecological breakdown, rising inequality, declining trust in institutions, and political polarisation are all interdependent issues and addressing them requires joined-up thinking and systemic approaches.
Institutions struggling to respond
Many of today’s institutions were designed for a world of more predictable problems, where change was slower, and tackling issues in isolation seemed to work reasonably well.
It is now clear that the challenges we face are dynamic and interrelated, requiring leaders who are far more systemic in their thinking and institutions that are much more flexible, adaptive, and collaborative in how they work.
OUR VISION
Catalyse transformational change
Our vision is to build a global community of leaders and changemakers, empowering them to reshape our institutions to tackle today’s greatest challenges more effectively.
We aim to foster inclusive, collaborative, and adaptable organisations that better serve people and the planet.
WHAT WE DO
During 2025 we will be prototyping a combined Fellowship and Collaboration Labs programme designed to:
Build systems leadership
For each Collaboration Lab, we select a cross-sector group of leaders and changemakers to become C3 Fellows. The Lab helps them strengthen their systems leadership capabilities: how to navigate complexity and facilitate more collaborative, inclusive approaches to change.
Strengthen collaboration
Each Lab is focused on a specific nexus issue. During the Lab, we identify opportunities for collaboration between existing programmes, facilitate cross-sector partnerships, and incubate new collaborative initiatives that tackle complex challenges.
Cultivate community
Building trust and community is a key part of the Labs, providing a foundation for effective collaboration between Fellows in the future. Our aim is to build lasting relationships that continue long after the Labs end.
Transform institutions
We also support Fellows to accelerate change within their organisation's culture, operating systems, and funding practices. The aim is to build institutional capacity to tackle complex challenges more effectively and sustain impact in the longer term.
OUR CURRENT WORK
In 2025 C3 is launching two country Labs with a focus on the food-biodiversity-climate nexus
Country Labs in Kenya and Thailand
In 2025 we will be selecting Fellows to join Collaboration Labs in Kenya and Thailand. The focus of the Labs will be on strengthening collaboration to address the food-biodiversity-climate nexus.
Global Learning Lab
We are also launching a Global Learning Lab to explore what changes are needed at the global level to support more collaborative, systemic approaches for addressing the food-biodiversity-climate nexus and other complex challenges.
COLLABORATE
We are building a coalition of partners to convene and facilitate Collaboration Labs and to expand the C3 Fellowship.
Our collaboration methodology can be adapted to addresss diverse issues and contexts.
We welcome partnerships with governments, development organisations, academic and research institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector, and funders.
Get in touch if you want to explore collaboration opportunities.
Charles O'Malley - email: charles.omalley@undp.org
Interested in collaborating? Get in touch!
The founding coalition of partners for C3 includes UNDP (led by the UNDP Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems team of the UNDP Nature Hub), Wageningen Social & Economic Research, FAO and UNEP. Seed funding provided by the GEF.
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