Learning Alliances
The Learning Alliances methodology allows implementation of successful innovations on a large scale. Practitioners and researchers involved and interested in Learning Alliances are invited to share practical experiences and to further develop the concept.
Learning for change
Learning alliances are applied in different initiatives to bring together stakeholders, one such initiative is LeaPPS (Learning for Practice and Policy on Household and School Sanitation & Hygiene) in Uganda. The overall aim of LeaPPS is to generate more cost-efficient and effective sanitation and hygiene programmes, sustainable facilities and hygiene behaviours. Changes are needed in order to realise this overall aim. The learning alliance provides a platform and a framework for sharing experiences, analysing progress and challenges. In this way, change is supported.
LeaPPS_LearningAlliance_article_change_alliance.pdf (165 kB)
Evaluating & Improving the WASH Sector - Strengthening WASH Governance, Learning about Complexity, Assessing Change
Over recent decades, several events and trends resulted in an increased focus on development agencies’ results, hence an increased demand for quantitative measurement in general, and impact evaluation in particular.
Read more or download TOP23_EvaluatingWASH.pdf (1.91 MB)
Learning alliances emerge in the water sector
A learning alliance is a group of representative stakeholders with a shared understanding of the problem to be solved. They aim to come to shared and commonly owned approach to dealing with the problem that leads to implementation, scaling up faster and wider and a sense of ownership.
Learning Alliances: Scaling up innovations in water, sanitation and hygiene
This book brings together theory and practice to examine the challenges of widespread innovative change in a real-world setting. It is in the first place geared towards water sector professionals with an interest in strengthening the developmental impacts of research and innovation, the scaling up of innovative implementation practices, and new approaches for capacity development.
Read more or download TP47_LA_07.pdf (1.56 MB)
Learning Alliances in the SWITCH project
The SWITCH project is piloting an innovative approach to scientific research with stakeholders in urban water management through a type of multi-stakeholder process that we call a Learning Alliance. On the SWITCH website you can find briefing notes, resources, capacity building events, and experiences on implementing Learning Alliances in various cities.
Knowledge sharing in Research through LAs
CGIAR's Knowledge Sharing in Research (KSinR) Project aims to improve the effectiveness and impact of CGIAR research through Through supporting research projects that pilot knowledge sharing approaches. The project website and blog provide options and lessons around good practices to support enhanced collaboration, learning, and delivery research results. The Wastewater, Agriculture and Sanitation for Poverty Alleviation (WASPA) project is one of the pilot projects being supported by the KSinR project
Documenting lessons on WASPA learning alliances
Since 2005 the Wastewater Agriculture and Sanitation for Poverty Alleviation in Asia (WASPA Asia) Project has piloted learning alliances for collaboration on solutions to improve wastewater handling, preventing waste from reaching fields and managing wastewater for agricultural production.
To support learning from the project, WASPA has applied process monitoring and process documentation. In Rajshahi and Kurunegala, the teams have written ‘change stories’ about different stakeholders to enable reflection on the project approach and the stories behind successes and difficulties working in a multi-stakeholder learning mode. Several stories were developed and updated regularly.
The final change stories are now online . They provide an illustration of the process and some lessons for WASPA about what worked, what some of the challenges where, who benefited and how stakeholders felt about the project.
2WASPA_Bangl_PD_lessons_LA_18_12_08_CdS_all_changes.pdf (511 kB)
Guidance notes WASPA Learning Alliances
Four guidance notes were prepared by IRC to support facilitation of the Learning Alliance and Participatory Planning Process in WASPA Asia. These notes refer to issues which were specific to the project. However, stakeholder involvement through the Learning Alliance process and through Participatory Action Planning is relevant for other projects as well. For each project, relevant adaptations to the methodology should be made.
LA Symposium
In June 2005, IRC and UNESCO-IHE hosted an international symposium on learning alliances. This folder contains the background paper, the proceedings and the symposium report of the event.
