Social franchising offers a powerful mechanism for scaling delivery of essential services to underserved populations while maintaining quality and sustainability. Our research in Kenya reveals that success follows distinct local pathways, not one universal template. Two factors proved critical across all pathways: accurate financial record-keeping and family support – yet development initiatives rarely prioritise either. These findings have implications for practitioners and policy makers in both developing economies and the UK/Europe, where social franchising can help scale delivery of healthcare, education, and community services. Context-sensitive programme design recognising multiple success routes is essential for maximising social impact.
