Organisation-wide learning
At the organisational-level, we work with an organisation-wide learning agenda that focuses on our three focal policy themes. For each theme, we have formulated key learning questions, which have been translated into learning priorities within the thematic programmes. Programme teams are supported by learning leads – dedicated staff members for each policy theme – who provide tools, advice, and facilitate the exchange of experiences and lessons learned. At the beginning of each year, the programme teams update and concretise their learning agenda into clear deliverables, which are reflected upon and reported on at the end of the year. In this way, we jointly build and deepen our organisation-wide knowledge base. A summary of the main lessons for each policy theme in 2023 can be found here. In recent years, we have also explored tools and approaches to monitor system change. The most important insights have been documented in this paper.
Thematic programme-level learning
Each programme team also annually expands its learning agenda with questions specific to its own thematic focus. In addition, the programme teams reflect annually on achieved results and lessons learned using an internal assessment format. This contributes to the development of both explicit and tacit knowledge within each programme.
Project-level learning
At the project level, our focus is primarily on strengthening the capacity of colleagues as reflective practitioners. Each year, project teams are asked to reflect on results achieved, the challenges they encountered, and the lessons they have learned.
Learning through partnerships
Through structured learning processes, we are continuously building a knowledge base that we then use in the projects. In addition, we also actively engage with the knowledge and expertise of others. We do this by intentionally and purposefully entering into partnerships with knowledge institutions and experts and involving them in the project consortia we participate in. These consortia are composed based on the knowledge and skills required to achieve the aspired impact and the concrete added value that each partner contributes.