Setting the stage

Peer learning involves individuals exchanging knowledge and experience with each other.
It also means transferring this learning back to their organisations to ensure an impact—at scale. Hence it is a collective learning process involving initial engagement through individual learning, to organisational learning (from the peers).

The Delta Alliance advocates peer learning (referred to as Delta2Delta learning) and encourages and supports partners to share their learning back into their organizations. Ad hoc learning events with partners across the Wings within the regions have been organized, but a structured well-defined peer learning process has not yet been designed and implemented. Hence, there is reason to believe that the effectiveness of peer learning (between projects) can be enhanced through a deliberate collective learning process with the Wings.

In the period 18-20 November, 2019, a structured and well-defined Delta2Delta learning process has been organized between Bangladesh and Egypt. This Delta2Delta learning process consisted of a workshop (to set the objectives, programming of activities, execution of activities, evaluation), f2f meetings, and training (see report Appendix).

Lessons learned:

• The Delta2Delta learning process has to be articulated/defined jointly with the Wing partners taking into account the conditions for peer learning as mentioned below.
• A critical factor in this early stage of the process is the selection of individuals and partners who will be engaged in the process.
• Delta2Delta learning has to be evaluated based on whether peer engagements and sustained individual contacts produced the right learning outcomes for the right individuals to achieve changes which matter. Indicators (SMART learning outcomes) have to be defined. 

Conditions for effective Delta2Delta learning:

• D2D learning is most effective when learning objectives are clear, and peer engagements are structured to maximize these objectives.
• D2D learning should be embedded/mainstreamed in all Wing activities/projects.
• D2D learning can take many forms i.e. joint action, heterogeneous study groups, discussion seminars etc. Depending on the objective one of these methods can be selected.
• D2D learning takes place between individuals and it facilitates interpersonal exchanges that are well- matched and that are based on trust and commitment.
  Learning gains of individual peers should be transferred back to the Wings and partner organizations.
• Continuous support (incl. resources) for peer learning between Wings and partners is required. The Delta Alliance should allocate budget on a structural basis to support Delta2Delta learning.

Do you want to know more? Read a case study in the Bangladesh Wing of the Delta Alliance about learning with Wings.