How to Build Coalitions and Trust
Joi Danielson
System Change and Transformation Specialist
You can’t make change without people. And you can’t get people without trust. Watch Joi Danielson as she explains how to build solid coalitions and how to win trust.
You can’t make change without people. And you can’t get people without trust. Watch Joi Danielson as she explains how to build solid coalitions and how to win trust.
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How to Build Coalitions and Trust
10 mins 5 secs
Key learning objectives:
Outline how to build working coalitions
Understand why trust is vital in coalition building
Explain the value of creating a partner ecosystem
Overview:
Coalitions work because no single actor can change a system alone. Each institution usually focuses on only one part of the system. By bringing these actors together, coalitions coordinate action across different sectors and pressure points. Trust is essential because it enables actors from different institutions and sectors to coordinate effectively. Without trust, partners may withhold critical knowledge, disengage, or feel overshadowed. Trust is built through consistent actions - communicating openly, following through on commitments, being transparent about intentions, and ensuring partners feel recognised and credited.
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Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.
Summary
How can coalitions be structured to effectively shift systems?
Coalitions work because no single actor can change a system alone. Each institution usually focuses on only one part of the system. By bringing these actors together, coalitions coordinate action across different sectors and pressure points. Effective coalitions are designed, not improvised. They start with a shared north star, a clear theory of change, and an aligned roadmap for action.
What roles do different institutions play within a coalition?
- Academics study root causes, build evidence, predict consequences, co-create solutions, and advise policymakers.
- NGOs mobilise the public, build urgency, and sometimes pilot solutions.
- Consultants write accessible reports that set agendas, though they rarely implement solutions at scale.
- Companies deliver products or services and can innovate within systemic constraints.
- Social enterprises create scalable, viable solutions in parts of the system that can sustain themselves economically.
- Governments set the rules and enforce policies that support the public good.
Why is trust considered the currency of change?
Trust is essential because it enables actors from different institutions and sectors to coordinate effectively. Without trust, partners may withhold critical knowledge, disengage, or feel overshadowed. Many local actors have experienced being used or having their contributions undervalued, which makes trust-building delicate. Newcomers should slow down, listen carefully, respect existing work, and consistently demonstrate reliability and transparency to earn trust.
How can you build trust?
Trust is built through consistent actions - communicating openly, following through on commitments, being transparent about intentions, and ensuring partners feel recognised and credited. Coalitions thrive when roles are clear, decisions are shared, and all partners feel comfortable with how their contributions are represented.
How can coalitions maintain momentum despite changing contexts or leadership?
A resilient coalition anticipates shifts in priorities, personnel, or leadership. Designating a core secretariat or small team to manage operations helps maintain continuity. Building flexible structures allows coalitions to adapt without losing sight of their shared goals. Successes should be highlighted with partners front and centre and making participation meaningful but manageable ensures senior leaders and busy stakeholders can contribute without feeling overburdened.
How does building an ecosystem of partners amplify impact?
A partner ecosystem emerges when initial pilots or coalition activities create a network of trusted relationships and active engagement. This ecosystem provides a sandbox where future collaborators can test ideas, run pilots, and apply their own theories of change. It attracts new talent, funding, and energy, enabling collective progress beyond the efforts of any single organisation. By creating a shared platform, multiple actors can move forward simultaneously, strengthening the bonds between institutions while tackling complex system challenges.
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Joi Danielson
Joi Danielson is a transformation leader with over 15 years of experience driving complex, high-stakes system change. She began her career as a consultant at McKinsey, later became a Partner at Systemiq, and now serves as Managing Partner of Vital Ocean. Joi specialises in turning ambitious ideas into practical, lasting outcomes that deliver real impact at scale, while developing the leaders and partnerships needed to sustain that change.
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