Collaborative scaling: Dr. Wamuyu and Gathoni Mahinda's Dela journey

Ashoka staff members from different regions sat down with Dr. Wamuyu Mahinda, Ashoka Fellow & Founding Partner at Collaborative Value Partners Africa (CVPAfrica), and Gathoni Mahinda, member of the Ashoka Fellow Legacy network and Partner and Programme Lead at CVPAfrica, to discuss their experience as participants in the fifth edition of the Dela systems change accelerator programme.

The article first appeared on Ashoka East Africa.

The Dela programme is a global accelerator co-created by IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Ashoka since 2019 to support leading social entrepreneurs in scaling their systemic impact. Designed as a space for collaborative learning and experimentation, the programme brings together social entrepreneurs and corporate professional leaders to develop robust systems change strategies in a safe space that allows to test and refine them.

Over the years, the Dela programme has evolved through five consecutive editions, each bringing together a diverse cohort of selected experts from the global social innovation and corporate sector, providing them with access to strategic mentorship, thought leadership, and hands-on experimentation opportunities.

Read on to hear from Ashoka Fellow Dr. Wamuyu and Gathoni’s insights on how their participation in the programme has deepened their understanding of systems change and strengthened their mission to drive collaboration for social impact.

Q: How has the collaboration with IKEA co-workers influenced your systems change approach, throughout your journey in the Dela programme?

Dr. Wamuyu Mahinda: The Dela programme gave me the opportunity to revisit my work, not just as an Ashoka Fellow, but as a collaboration changemaker. This experience affirmed my work vision and gave me a boosting collaboration-driven impact.   
IKEA operates in a way that is very engaging and supportive. Their team asks insightful questions and offers valuable, and incredibly enriching input. Working with them has been an exciting journey.

Gathoni Mahinda: There is a unique dynamic in the IKEA-Ashoka partnership. The IKEA team doesn’t feel like a large corporate; they are warm, engaging, and genuinely invested in social change. It was an unexpected but wonderful experience.

 

Q: Were there any groundbreaking tools or strategies you picked up during the programme that have transformed the way you work?

Dr. Wamuyu Mahinda: One of the tools that stood out for me was the Problem Tree Analysis. I had known about it before, but never truly applied it until this program. Now, it’s something we’ve fully integrated into our structured approach to Collaboration.

Gathoni Mahinda: Wamuyu captured it well—our team has fully adopted this tool, and we will continue to use it moving forward. Also, meeting our thought partner provided us with deep insights and strategic guidance, which helped shape our vision. Their personalised approach made a significant impact on how we refined our work.

Q: Building relationships is a key milestone at the Dela Summit. What were the most meaningful connections or collaborations you formed during Dela?

Gathoni Mahinda: The entire experience was intentionally curated for connection. We met so many inspiring changemakers, and the structured conversations ensured that we built meaningful relationships.

Dr. Wamuyu Mahinda: One of the most powerful moments was the Leadership Day, where we shared personal reflections on our work. It deepened our connections and gave us a chance to learn from each other’s experiences.

Q: Now that the programme has moved to its next phase, the Scoping and Experimentation, how do you see yourself leveraging the insights and connections you've gained at the Dela Summit to drive even greater impact?

Dr. Wamuyu Mahinda: This experience has pushed me to the next level. We are now actively working to scale the CVPApproach to Collaboration globally.

Gathoni Mahinda: I feel more confident and equipped than ever before. This process has validated our approach, and now we are ready to scale and spark a movement around collaborating for social change.

The Dela programme has not only expanded Dr. Wamuyu and Gathoni’s vision but also validated their work in scaling collaboration as a systemic tool for change. With the upcoming Dela Scoping and Experimentation phase, they are eager to continue refining and expanding their impact with the support of IKEA experts and the global Ashoka network. 

As Wamuyu puts it,