Impact Lab

An opportunity for Sweden alumni who are looking for extra support in driving change – within your organisation, in society at large, or both. You can apply with a project you’re already working on or a new idea you want to develop and test.
Photo: Moa Karlberg, Susanne Walström, Sylvie, Lieselotte van der Meijs

About

Impact Lab offers coaching, peer learning, and tailored resources to help you start or strengthen a change initiative. Projects may range from early-stage pilots to strategy implementation, depending on your organisation’s capacity and context. It’s offered to different target groups. 

Impact Lab for civil society – autumn 2025

The autumn edition is specifically tailored for Sweden alumni working in civil society who seek additional support in driving change for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech – within your organisation, in society at large, or both. You can apply with a motivation letter for a project you’re already working on or a new idea you want to develop and test.  

Impact Lab offers coaching, peer learning, and tailored resources to help you start or strengthen a change initiative. Projects may range from early-stage pilots to fully realised initiatives, depending on your organisation’s capacity and context. You’ll get personalised coaching sessions and opportunities for other forms of support (for example feedback on plans and opportunities to co-facilitate workshops together with your coach for other colleagues). There will also be optional thematic workshops focused on peer-learning.

Apply here

The change projects should be relevant and aligned with your organisational goals. It could be some kind of change related to your internal organisational processes and structures that strengthen your organisation to make a great impact in line with your purpose and goals, and/or a project focusing on driving change in society to protect democracy, human rights, or freedom of expression. 

If you choose to work with a change project having a focus on direct impact beyond your organisation it could be to engage, influence or support, for instance: 

  • Policy and decision-makers
  • The communities or groups you work with/focus on in our work
  • The broader public or a defined target audience
  • Media and opinion-shapers
  • Civil society networks or alliances  

If you choose to work with a change project having a focus on direct impact within your organisation, it could be to engage, influence or support, for instance: 

  • Organisational leadership and decision-makers
  • Staff teams or specific departments
  • Organisational culture and internal communication
  • Internal learning, development, and well-being initiatives
  • Cross-functional collaboration and alignment
  • Internal systems, structures, or processes (e.g. decision-making, feedback, equity practices)
  • You can also focus on the start-up phase of a long-term initiative, e.g. identifying root causes, mapping allies, or defining key messages. 

Expectations

  • Engage in coaching and peer learning (~10 hours)  
  • Address risks and ethical considerations 
  • Secure mandate and organisational support for your project 
  • Launch or implement a change initiative with a clear development plan 
  • Co-create a project summary with your coach, focusing on learning and impact 

Impact Lab Timeplan

  • 30 Sep – Call for motivation letters opens 
  • 13 oct – Deadline to submit motivation letter 
  • 15 Oct – 15 Dec – Coaching and peer learning sessions 
  • 15 Dec – Submit project report, programme ends 

Apply here

Contact person:

Ulrika K. Engström, Programme Manager
[email protected]

FAQ