Impact Trust • Working glossary

Telescopic and microscopic lens

The ability to zoom between global/systemic patterns (telescope) and local/community-level realities (microscope).

Details

Our Take

Connecting what frontline workers see with what strategic analysts track. 'Exactly where we are with our global network with very localised actors.' A simple, powerful metaphor for multi-scale sensemaking. The Movement has both the telescope (global presence) and the microscope (191 National Societies embedded in communities). The bilateral programme's contribution is building the capacity to connect the two.

Examples of Use

Horizon 2045, Birgitte Ebbesen / IFRC

Synonyms/Variants

Multi-scale analysis; Zoom in/zoom out; Macro-micro connection

Typical everyday wording

Being able to see both the big picture and the local reality