Lesson learning workshops are a forum for NGOs to collectively observe other NGO project activities, reflect on and discuss their own experiences, and to engage in active discussion about the emerging lessons from the shiree/EEP project. These are organised on a quarterly basis. Field exercises involve receiving feedback from beneficiaries and discussing the key challenges and lessons learnt with NGO staff (both management and field-level), culminating in presentations and discussions.
Goal
– To gain and enhance our understanding of the learning emerging from the projects.
– To share observations, experiences and best practices (and explore the possibility of the wider adoption of best practices).
– To validate recent outputs and set priorities for future lesson learning.
– To pull together learnings and best practice for future outside sharing and communication.
Achievements
In 2010:
January 2010
Scale-Fund NGO partners participated in a programme learning workshop in Rangpur, jointly organised by Care and Practical Action Bangladesh. This reflected particularly on the Care SETU project’s community based approach and the use of technologies by the Practical Action Pathways from Poverty project. Key findings and observations were recorded in a workshop report. Read the full report .
Participants observing sandbar cropping of Practical Action Bangladesh’s Pathways from Poverty Project in Rangpur, North-west Bangladesh
May 2010
In May 2010, all Scale-Fund NGO partners participated in a programme learning workshop in Rajshahi, organised NETZ and partner NGO Ashrai. Lessons were drawn particularly around beneficiary choice of assets, as well as NETZ’s work with Handicap International in mainstreaming disability. Key findings and observations were recorded in a workshop report. Read the full report.
November 2010
In November 2010, all Scale-Fund partners took part in a three-day workshop organised by Save the Children UK and Uttaran in Khulna. Field visits took place across Khulna and Satkira with participants recording lessons and best practices through observations and exercises. These included the benefits of multiple Income-Generating Activities; combining land and asset transfers; and the use of Community Mentors and group-based approaches for empowerment. Recommendations based on observations and field visit exercises led to a number of recommendations for improving interventions. The event included a presentation by DFID Nutrition Advisor and shiree Nutrition Focal Point, after which identifying ways to mainstream nutrition was agreed to be a key priority for project consideration. Best practices arising out of NGO experiences of targeting and selecting extreme poor households were also reviewed. Overall, the event drew attention to the complexity that projects face in working in an area so prone to disaster. Some strong advocacy messages emerged, including the need the need for safe drinking water and a coordinated approach between relief and development activities in the Aila-affected area of Koyra. Read the full report.