The challenges of our moment are real and compounding: attacks on fundamental freedoms, the accelerating consequences of the climate crisis, autocracies and illiberal ideologies fracturing the international order. Multilateral cooperation has weakened; accountability mechanisms have lost credibility; the foundations of the international system are under strain.
Yet resistance is also real: across the world, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, and reform-minded institutions are pushing back, adapting, and building new coalitions. They are doing this under pressure, with limited resources, and rarely with the recognition the moment demands.
Progress & Change Partnerships was founded to work alongside them; to help turn that resistance into lasting traction.
- Through our Strategy Lab, we design (transition) strategies.
- Through our Action Lab, we develop impactful outreach and advocacy campaigns to amplify influence.
- Through our Research Lab, we identify and track opportunities to further your mission.
Compassion & Humility
Our work is guided by compassion and humility. Compassion shapes how we engage with the people and causes we serve. Humility shapes how we listen, how we learn, and how we measure success. We hold ourselves accountable to both.
Ambition & Sensibility
We hold ourselves to high standards and pursue real impact. Ambition without sensibility, however, leads nowhere useful. We seek change that is sustainable, grounded in evidence, and accountable to the people it is meant to serve.
Collaboration & Amplification
Collaboration is the foundation of everything we do. We bring our experience and expertise to our partners' work, amplify their efforts, and commit fully to the shared journey.
You & us, together.
A Conversation with our President
In this compelling podcast conversation, Dave Schoof speaks with Florian Irminger about his journey from high-visibility political leadership to behind-the-scenes human rights advocacy, and what he calls the "Global Realignment" we're all navigating. This episode explores how leaders can pivot from old ways of working to meet unprecedented challenges, why admitting "I don't know" is becoming essential leadership, and how human rights work is at the leading edge of what we all need to learn to thrive in this new world.
Dave speaks to Florian's inspiration by something Robert F. Kennedy said in 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement: “Progress is the nice word we like to use, but change is its motivator and change has its enemies.” These words speak to our current moment that comfortable approaches aren't enough when the foundations themselves are shifting.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- The Power of the Pivot: Sometimes stepping back from visibility creates more authentic impact
- Admitting "I Don't Know": In times of uncertainty, vulnerability becomes a leadership strength
- From Answers to Questions: Moving from classical music to jazz - improvising and listening rather than following old scripts
- The Global Realignment: We're all navigating similar challenges across different sectors
- Personal Navigation: Finding practices (like saxophone for breathing, classic literature for perspective) to maintain balance in chaos
- Future Hope: Humanity has overcome difficult moments before and is equipped to do so again
