Manifesto
We live in a world facing deep, interwoven crises - climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, inequality. These problems don’t exist in isolation. But too often, our responses do.
When we work in silos, we fail to honour the complexity of the systems we’re part of.
At C3 Labs, we believe transformation begins with connection—within ourselves, with each other and across systems. This kind of change asks us to slow down, listen deeply and reckon with both past harms and current realities. It also asks us to imagine what’s possible when we choose to lead differently.
C3 stands for Collaboration for Complex Challenges. It also stands for Connection, Community and Co-creation.
We believe the path forward is built through relationships. Relationships rooted in trust, vulnerability and the courage to let go of control.When we bridge divides - across sectors, disciplines, institutions - we unlock the power to shift not just problems but the systems that sustain them.
Collaboration is rarely easy. It’s messy, nonlinear and often uncomfortable but it’s also essential. By gathering with humility, curiosity, and care, we can hold the uncertainty of our times and move effectively forward. Through these relationships, we can create something lasting; a future where people and the planet thrive in the right relationship. Which is why we’re creating the C3 Space.
This is the work of our time.
The future is collaborative.Our Principles for Collaboration
1Start with Humility
Starting with humility means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. It’s about recognising the limits of what we know, questioning our assumptions, and embracing discomfort as an opportunity for growth. True openness requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to let others challenge our perspectives.
2Build Trust
Building trust means showing up with openness, courage, and vulnerability. It requires investing time and care in relationships, creating space for honest conversations, and being willing to navigate differences. Trust allows us to hold the complexity of collaboration and move forward together with shared purpose.
3Face the Truth
To face the truth means confronting the uncomfortable realities of the systems we live in and our roles within them. It requires honesty about our blind spots, privileges, and complicity, as well as the courage to untangle ourselves from harmful assumptions and patterns. Only by naming these truths can we begin to create space for transformation.
4Let Go
Letting go means acknowledging what must end—whether it’s outdated systems, harmful assumptions, or our need for control. It involves holding space for loss and making peace with uncertainty. By unlearning and surrendering, we open ourselves to new ways of seeing and being.
5Create Together
To co-create effectively, requires patience, playfulness, and the courage to explore different perspectives. By embracing the unpredictability of collaboration, we open pathways to ideas and solutions that cannot emerge when we work alone.
6Embrace Paradox
To embrace paradox means accepting that uncertainty, tension, and contradiction are part of systemic change. It’s about resisting the urge to simplify and instead holding space for multiple truths and perspectives. By slowing down and staying curious, we create the conditions for continuous learning and adaptation.
7Trust the Process
Trusting the process means recognising that transformation is rarely linear or quick. It involves tending to relationships, staying committed through uncertainty, and celebrating small steps along the way. By celebrating small steps and tending to the work with care and intention, we sustain the collective energy needed for long-term impact.
Connect with Us
Have a question? Interested to collaborate at the lab level? Or keen to fund the C3 Labs Vision? Get in touch
If you'd like to explore collaboration opportunities, please fill out the form or reach out to the core C3 Labs team.
Courtney Savie Lawrence, Nicolas Petit, Charles O'Malley
We are a multi-partner collective led by UNDP, FAO, UNEP and Wageningen Social and Economic Research Center. Seed funding is provided by the Global Environment Facility. The founding coalition of partners for C3 includes UNDP (led by the Global UNDP Food Systems Team of the UNDP Nature Hub), Wageningen Social & Economic Research, FAO and UNEP. This visual presentation is for learning and information purposes only.
C3 Labs Comms & Brand World created by C3 Creatives in Residence Sophie Rucker & Max Lilley (c) 2025. All Rights Reserved.