Turn Your Pilot Project Into Policy

Joi Danielson

System Change and Transformation Specialist

Governments face a lot of challenges and sometimes need a little help. Watch Joi Danielson as she explains how to work with governments to turn your project into policy.

Sector-Wide Essentials

Governments face a lot of challenges and sometimes need a little help. Watch Joi Danielson as she explains how to work with governments to turn your project into policy.

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Turn Your Pilot Project Into Policy

9 mins 30 secs

Key learning objectives:

Outline the ACCA model
Explain the challenges governments face
Understand how plastic credits became political reality in Indonesia

Overview:

The ACCA model (acknowledge, comprehend, commit and act) is a mental framework for guiding decision-makers through the journey of adopting new policies. The idea is that most policy efforts fail not because the idea itself is flawed, but because we misread where decision-makers are in their own process. Government leaders generally want to solve problems, but they often face significant constraints. They need airtight data, tested models, coalition support, and clear alignment with their existing commitments.

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Summary

What is the ACCA model and how does it guide policy implementation?

The ACCA model is a mental framework for guiding decision-makers through the journey of adopting new policies. The idea is that most policy efforts fail not because the idea itself is flawed, but because we misread where decision-makers are in their own process.

Acknowledge: Decision-makers first need to recognise that a problem exists, often supported by data, human stories, and urgency.
Comprehend: They then require time and support to fully understand the problem, the possible solutions, and the trade-offs involved.
Commit: After comprehension can they commit to a course of action and begin shaping the solution so it aligns with their context.
Act: They implement the solution with the right roadmaps, budgets, and partners.

What challenges do governments face when considering new policies?

Government leaders generally want to solve problems, but they often face significant constraints, such as:

Lack of clear understanding of available options
Limited credible evidence that solutions will work
The political risk associated with adopting new ideas, which can affect reputations and require the expenditure of political capital

Governments need airtight data, tested models, coalition support, and clear alignment with their existing commitments. Engaging governments is a process of partnership, not a transactional ask.

How did plastic credits become a political reality in Indonesia?

Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry was sceptical due to past negative experiences with carbon credits, where international developers profited while local communities saw little benefit. Instead of pushing, the team listened, worked upstream with global standards and explored how these credits could fit within Indonesia’s legal and operational reality. By collaborating with a trusted legal firm, modelling the economic benefits for local governments and entrepreneurs, and running workshops to address concerns, the team gradually built understanding and trust. Eventually, the Ministry hosted a national workshop, opening the door for wider adoption of plastic credits across the country.

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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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