Halogen’s mapping study, conducted in autumn 2023, brings together scientific research, practice-based insight, and expert judgement.

The report identifies five central findings that highlight the need for a transformative approach:

1. Current development efforts are insufficient.
   Social exclusion is driven by complex and interrelated causes and is reinforced by a fragmented support system. There is a clear need to strengthen prevention and early intervention.

2. Lack of coordination and synergies.
   Although many cross-sector initiatives share overlapping objectives, they lack structured linkages and mechanisms for collaboration to ensure that efforts reinforce one another.

3. The need for holistic and systemic thinking.
   Social exclusion is a persistent, “wicked” problem that requires fundamental changes in ways of working and organising — not merely improvements to individual services. More systematic experimentation and meaningful user involvement are essential.

4. Requirements for stable structures and shared understanding.
   The effort demands long-term, binding, and flexible collaboration across levels of government. A shared understanding of the problem and strong working relationships are prerequisites for success.

5. Framework conditions must change.
   Today’s fragmented and short-term funding mechanisms, along with governance logics that conflict with cross-sector collaboration, must be reformed. Framework conditions need to become impact-oriented and incentivise long-term outcomes.

Read the full report:
https://www.forskningsradet.no/siteassets/publikasjoner/2023/kartlegging-2023_halogen_malrettet-samfunnsoppdrag.pdf