inHive

Who we are

The people around us shape our lives. The strength of our network, or hive, can make a big difference to our life chances. inHive exists to ensure every young person can make the most of their hive, no matter where they come from. We are a specialist team of network builders, working with partners across the world to strengthen young people’s access to strong networks and relatable role models.

Every school, every youth programme, every scholarship programme and leadership programme has alumni. They are some of the greatest potential levers for change and impact, and yet they are widely underutilised and under-funded.

Our work is anchored around three strategic areas to change this:

1. Building a sector around networks. This year inHive is launching a new collaboration called Nexus, a global network for network leaders around the world who are driving social justice. This network will be a home for a range of individuals and organisations, from a grassroots network of women driving female empowerment workshops in India, to start-ups in Australia and New Zealand, to global household names of youth networks and teacher networks. This network will be serving three functions: 
   1. To drive expertise – there are very few resources and lessons out there about alumni network building in low-resource contexts so sharing, learning and co-creation of new knowledge is critical.
   2. To drive collective action – networks become even more powerful, useful and systemically viable when they don’t exist in isolation, but in collaboration with other networks. We think the impact of networks can be amplified when they work together.
   3. To provide community – network leaders are often doing hard, long term work in isolated roles. We want to provide a space where they can feel a sense of belonging, and access others who ‘get them’.
2. Driving a research and evidence base around alumni network building. This means commissioning new learning around the value of role models and social capital can support wide and complex issues: how networks can support transitions into employment, how they can support girls’ attendance in schools and teacher self-efficacy and motivation.

1. Providing practical technical support and guidance to build alumni networks. We have developed a methodology which forms the backbone to our approach to network building. We are a team of network experts who work in close collaboration with our partners, who range from school networks, like CARE Foundation in Pakistan, to education NGOs like FAWE working across sub-Saharan Africa, and foundations like the Mastercard Foundation. Our typical partnership lasts about two years, during which we’ll provide a range of support: scoping studies, trainings, youth leadership development, coaching, resource co-design and evaluation.