a multilateral system that works.

Project Starling’s vision is a multilateral system that works. We are a think and do tank and advisory firm focused on shifting power to those most affected by global governance decisions. We identify the best ideas, advise champion governments and civil society partners, and help them to navigate political processes and change the multilateral system, together.

We believe that governance institutions are society’s scaffolding. They offer stability and a shared sense of truth and collective purpose. And they allow people to collaborate, convert ideas into action, and solve problems at scale. 

But our institutions, politics, and governance processes are sclerotic and unable to address the compounding crises facing humanity. The people and societies most impacted lack sufficient access to and agency in decision-making, undermining credibility in our institutions and support for democracy. We aim to help them adapt and respond, so they can be more effective and inclusive.

Our name is inspired by the way starling flocks move together, adapt, and collaborate harmoniously; collective intelligence and action reflects our view of how social change takes place.

Why Project Starling?

We are social change leaders who have navigated between different sectors and across institutions and see a better way to address our challenges. The team at Project Starling are systems navigators, strategists, activists, and communicators with extensive senior-level relationships across government, the UN, civil society, think tank actors, and philanthropy. Over the last two decades, we have each worked in various capacities to build, strengthen, and sustain political support for global cooperation, and our work has led to significant outcomes.

The results achieved by the leaders at Project Starling set us apart. We are uniquely placed to conduct this work, given our experience, expertise, and rich networks, as well as the credibility we have with the range of key actors across the globe. Our record speaks for itself: the story of the Sustainable Development Goals and and its complementary Addis Ababa Action Agenda Financing for Development agreement as well as the High Ambition Coalition in the Paris climate negotiations, led by the Marshall Islands, are examples of what can be achieved by a small group of determined leaders. Our team members played key roles in helping to orchestrate and provide behind the scenes leadership in these and other endeavors.

Advisory

Our team is ready to collaborate on any institutional or societal challenge. We provide strategic and political analysis, facilitation and design, and strategy advisory and support services, including helping mission-oriented initiatives to better understand and effectively navigate the United Nations and global policy processes.

Get in touch, and let’s talk.