From Silos to Ecologies

From Silos to Ecologies offers a new way to understand how knowledge is generated, interpreted, and used to address today’s most complex social challenges. It introduces the concept with clarity and purpose, showing why single studies, narrow methods, or rigid evaluation systems are no longer sufficient for problems shaped by complexity, uncertainty, and rapid change. The book also points to issues of evaluation capture and the problematic levels of independence.

Drawing on realist evaluation, in which real-world problems, rugged landscapes, and underlying theories of solutions, serve as starting points for testing—as well as systems thinking, and practice—the book argues for approaches that are more adaptive and grounded in real-world contexts. Humility and the fallibility of knowledge generation are part of that approach. Through contributions from leading scholars and practitioners, the volume demonstrates how different forms of evidence can work together to support better decisions in areas such as maternal health, brain health, poverty reduction, and community-led innovation. Case studies from Canada, China, and India illustrate how an ecology of evidence helps practitioners navigate complexity, learn from local contexts, and design interventions that are both effective and sustainable—but are not one-size-fits-all solutions.

A call for transformation runs throughout the book: moving from routine monitoring toward deeper explanation, from bureaucratic systems toward real (and not orchestrated) learning systems, and from isolated interventions toward solutions that reflect the lived realities of communities. From Silos to Ecologies is essential reading for scholars, students, evaluators, policymakers, and anyone seeking more meaningful ways to understand and improve the world around us.