Dela Programme

Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship have co-created a global accelerator to offer a space for scaling socially driven initiatives.

During the first five editions of the Dela Programme, over 200 selected experts from the global social innovation and corporate sector (including IKEA co-workers and colleagues from companies such as Microsoft) have provided 55+ leading social entrepreneurs support to develop their impact-scaling strategy, testing elements of it in practice. In addition to strategy work, the program has enabled financial support, networking, and other opportunities for the participating social entrepreneurs selected from Ashoka’s network.

Meet the current participants of the Dela fifth edition and learn how, together, we share knowledge, perspectives, and networks to support social entrepreneurs and engage thought partners.

 

Accelerator programme

The systems change accelerator programme supports leading social entrepreneurs whose solutions redefine the underlying root cause of social problems. 

This fifth edition of the Dela programme features an accelerator for 12 selected social entrepreneurs.

The accelerator focuses on enhancing their system change strategies and identifying the organisational milestones required to attain them.

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Engaging experts from the field

The Dela Programme directly involves selected experts from the global social innovation and corporate sector (including IKEA co-workers and colleagues from companies such as Microsoft) as advisors to support social entrepreneurs with their strategic and implementational challenges.

By adding new advice to their efforts, the accelerator aims to further increase the impact of the social entrepreneurs’ work.

At the same time, it offers them an opportunity to learn from social entrepreneurs. With the support of Ashoka, IKEA co-workers and Thought Partners will present their new strategies to a group of hand-picked top-level executives who will challenge their assumptions and refine their strategies.

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Adding Social Entrepreneurs

Through this partnership, we also source and select the latest, most innovative, and leading social entrepreneurs who are working on the topic of livelihood and circularity. 

Circularity means looking beyond the current take-make-dispose model and focusing on positive society-wide benefits. The social entrepreneurs inspire Thought Partners to work in new, smarter, and sustainable ways.

The social entrepreneurs also get the option to join a Scoping and Experimentation phase. This will see them paired with ‘Experimenting Partners’ and experts to further test the feasibility, viability, and desirability of their systems change ideas

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Our impact

By working closely with social entrepreneurs, IKEA co-workers gain insights into markets, business models, and local contexts that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Co-workers are able to see new realities and bring new approaches into their everyday lives and their organization, being inspired by the social entrepreneurs' leadership and mission. 

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Meet the participants of the Dela V edition

Dela Thought Partners

Meet the participants of the Dela IV edition

Dela Thought Partners

Social entrepreneurs are pathfinders who address social challenges and work to create better opportunities, tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality. In a world with big challenges, collaboration and mutual learning is key.

Åsa Skogström Feldt
Managing Director, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV
Åsa Skogström Feldt

For me, the Dela accelerator programme is a radical revolution. Once you are invited to structure and implement a systems change strategy in order to reach much more impact, the way you used to see your work changes completely.

Fernando Azzad
Ashoka fellow and Dela Programme participant
Fernando Assad

As opposed to many philanthropic models, where reporting serves are the backbone for a rigid grantor/grantee relationship, the Dela program creates a collaborative feedback loop – where all parties are active communicators in developing a systems change strategy.

Stacey Epperson
Founder of Next Step and Dela Programme participant
Stacey Epperson

Sustainable systems change cannot be achieved without participation from business leaders and corporations. By analyzing the systems in which they operate and identifying levers of change, businesses have a real opportunity to become real drivers for societal and environmental change.

Vincent Lagacé
Founder of Nuup and Dela Programme participant
Vincent Lagace

Meet the participants of the Dela III edition

Ashoka Fellows

Dela Thought Partners

IKEA co-workers

IKEA co-workers