Book
Rayner, C. and Bonnici, F. (2021). The Systems Work of Social Change: How to Harness Connection, Context, and Power to Cultivate Deep and Enduring Change. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Winner (2022), Terry McAdam Book Award, Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
Selected by OUP for audio book publication (2022), narrated by Zoleka Vundla.
Reviewed in the Stanford Social Innovation Review (Reviewer: Alex Counts); From Poverty to Power, Oxfam (Reviewer: Duncan Green); The International Journal of Community and Social Development (Reviewer: Ritika Sharma Kurup).
Working Papers
Rayner, C., Miner, K., Besharov, M. (2025). Mapping the Social Innovation Terminology Landscape. Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, University of Oxford, Said School of Business. Prepared for the Government Council on Social Innovation.
Journal Articles
Schweer Rayner, C., Thorogood, C., & Bonnici, F. (2020). VillageReach: innovating for improved health care at the “last mile”. Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, 10(4), 1-33.
Bazley, J., Rayner, C. S., & Power, A. P. (2017). Zoona mobile money: investing for impact (cases A and B). Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, 7(2), 1-27.
Rayner, C.S. (2016) "CareCross health: private healthcare for workers", Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, doi: 10.1108/EEMCS-10-2016-0277.
Falk, G., Coyner Robinson, J., Schweer, C. (2009) “mothers2mothers: Social Entrepreneurship and Public Health—Scaling Innovation.” Global Forum Update on Research for Health. 6: 34-38.
Technical Reports & Toolkits
Rayner, C., Otoo, S., and Bonnici, F. (2025). The future of innovation is collective. Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Bonnici, F., De Ganay, G., Hlophe, S., Otoo, S., Rayner, C. (2025). The future is collective: Advancing collective social innovation to address society’s biggest challenges. World Economic Forum, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Rayner, C. (2025). The future is collective: Case studies of collective social innovation. World Economic Forum, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Rayner, C. (2024). Global innovation index: Case studies of social entrepreneurship. World Intellectual Property Organization.
Rayner, C., Kania, J., Khosa, T. (2022). Storytelling as meaning-making. Collective Change Lab.
Rayner, C. and Nkonyeni, N. (2021). Financing early childhood development: The Impact Bond Innovation Fund, South Africa. NORRAG Global Education Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute.
Rayner, C., Mark, D., Sutherns, T., Ndlovu, L., Fong, F., Moffatt, E., Mellors, S., Le Kirkegaard, R., Langevin-Falcon, C., Putta, N., Mannikarottu, C., Hatane, L.. (2019). Clinic-community collaboration adolescent toolkit: How clinics and communities can work together to improve HIV service delivery for adolescents and young people. Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa and ViiV Healthcare.
Rosa, S., Rayner, C., Rose, L., Nkonyeni, N. (2017). System entrepreneurship landscape review report. Rockefeller Foundation Global Fellowship Programme.
Schweer Rayner, C. (2017). The clinic-community collaboration (C3) toolkit: Working together to improve PMTCT and paediatric HIV treatment, care and support. Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa.
Schweer Rayner, C., Thorogood, C., and Bonnici, F. (2017). Beyond organizational scale: How social entrepreneurs create systems change. Insights Report. World Economic Forum, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Schweer Rayner, C. and Bonnici, F. (2017) Entrepreneur or activist? A new way to tackle global challenges emerges. GSB Business Review. University of Cape Town.
Schweer Rayner, C. (2016). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Goal 16: Case Studies of Social Justice from South Africa to Blend Policy and Practice. Open Society Foundation South Africa.
Media
Otoo, S. and Rayner, C. (April 2025). “Unleashing the power of collective social innovation to tackle complex issues around the world.” World Economic Forum.
Kania, J. and Rayner, C. (2022). “Systems Change: Why it Matters (and Isn’t Just a Buzz Word). Social Investor.
Bonnici, F. and Rayner, C. (Sept 2021). “Doing Deeper Work: 3 Things To Learn About The Process Of Systems Change”. Forbes.
Rayner, C.S., and Bonnici, F. (May 2017). “Fixing systems, not symptoms.” Business Day.
Podcasts
Le Goulven, K. (July 2023). “Creating system change with Cynthia Rayner and Jeroo Billimoria.” [Audio podcast episode]. In Mission to Change. INSEAD.
Carty, W. (March 2022. “Cynthia Rayner and François Bonnici: The Systems Work of Social Change.” [Audio podcast episode]. In Collaboration Beyond the Buzzword. All Together Strategies.
Frederick, D. (November 2021). “Why Process is Even More Important Than Outcomes with Systems Work” [Audio podcast episode]. In Business of Giving.
Case
Studies
Rayner, C. and Nkonyeni, N. (2018). #FeesMustFall: Crisis and change in the South African higher education system. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C. (2018). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change. Module Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C. and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: Child and Youth Finance International. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C., Thorogood, C., and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: Fundación Escuela Nueva. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Thorogood, C., Rayner, C., and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: Landesa. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C. and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: Nidan. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C. and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: Sproxil. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Rayner, C., Thorogood, C., and Bonnici, F. (2017). Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change: VillageReach. Teaching Case and Teaching Note. University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Chilongo, M. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Access to Housing. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Chilongo, M. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Access to Health Services. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Nosenzo, P. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Access to Finance. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Putter, M. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Access to Education. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Dreyer, B. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Nosenzo, P. & Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investment Theme: Renewable Energy and Clean Technology. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Rayner, C. (2015). Wendy Luhabe: Social Entrepreneur & Impact Investor. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Dreyer, B., Putter, M., Scotch, S., Rayner, C. (2015). Investment Vehicle Innovations. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Rayner, C. (2015). A Tale of Two Agricultural Funds. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Rayner, C. (2015). Impact Investing Fund Manager Profiles. Teaching Case. University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.
Schweer, C. (2010). mothers2mothers: Scaling Social Innovation. University of Oxford, Said School of Business. *Winner of EFMD Business Case of the Year in 2011.