Throughout three sessions we look at learning at the level of 1) programmes, 2) organisations and 3) partnerships. Each session featured contributions from experts and practitioners who shared their insights and resources.
Session 1: Strategies for Capturing and Sharing Programme Insights
The first session focused on practical approaches to ensure that valuable programme lessons lead to tangible impact and are not forgotten. The session featured lessons from the Right2Grow and Fair4All programmes, highlighting best practices in capturing, using, and communicating insights to advance organisational legacy and sector learning. Together we explored:
- Tailoring learning processes to fit the needs of internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Integrating learning from the start: Embedding documentation and learning as a core element throughout the programme cycle rather than as an afterthought.
- Communicating insights effectively: Sharing outcomes beyond organisational boundaries to influence future strategies.
Session 2: Strategies to Become a Learning Organisation
Session two examined what it means to become a learning organisation in an environment facing constant pressure and change. Drawing on experiences from Liliane Fonds, the Convive Collective, War Child, Propel and Zeza, we explored different aspects of organisational learning, including:
- Building a learning culture: The foundation for continuous improvement and innovation.
- Leadership and champions: Enabling staff at all levels to drive and sustain learning.
- Systems and processes: Embedding learning in the organisational DNA, making it part of everyday practice.
- Evidence-based decision-making: Using captured insights to shape future actions and enhance overall impact.
Session 3: Equitable Learning in Partnerships
The final session explored how international development partnerships can adopt more equitable and inclusive approaches to learning, with insights from academics, researchers, and practitioners. We dived into:
- Epistemic justice: Gladys Kemboi highlighted persistent inequalities in knowledge systems, emphasising the need to value local and Indigenous knowledge through frameworks that promote epistemic justice and decolonisation of learning.
- Practical steps in evaluations: Researchers from ALNAP outlined how locally led evaluations can redistribute power by involving communities in planning, data collection, and interpretation, ensuring learning strategies reflect equity and shared decision-making.
- Feminist and emergent learning approaches: Akina Mama wa Afrika shared how they shifted from linear learning models to emergent, context-driven practices that embrace uncertainty, prioritise diverse voices, and create ongoing spaces for collective reflection and growth.
From lessons to legacy
Across all three sessions of the series it became clear that learning should be intentional, embedded in core processes, and supported by an organisational culture that values reflection and innovation. True learning is collaborative and inclusive, drawing on diverse voices and knowledge systems, while actively addressing power imbalances. Crucially, learning should not remain theoretical but must lead to visible change by informing strategies, improving program design, and driving systemic transformation. Ultimately, effective and equitable learning requires conscious effort at every level and an ongoing commitment to putting lessons into practice for lasting impact.