Shared Learning Dialogues

Shared learning dialogues, a technique extensively used in projects led by ISET, will be held at regular intervals throughout the project to bring together groups of key actors including government, NGO and community participants in information exchange meetings, encouraging the engagement of external counterparts and decision-makers in project activities. Such dialogues will also provide an immediate mechanism for feedback and help to ‘close the loop’ between knowledge generation, testing, dissemination and application. Finally, the shared learning dialogue meetings will ensure results are made available to key actors at a local and regional level.

These shared learning dialogues, which are planned in conjunction with all project meetings, will enable direct feedback between information users, government, NGO, and other organizations, and the project. They are intended as a structural mechanism for both building the views of users into the research process and disseminating research results on an ongoing basis.

Shared learning dialogues are a less common technique. They essentially involve semi-structured meetings with groups of key actors at regular intervals throughout a research project. Each meeting starts with a brief synthesis and critical issue presentation by the organizers. Other participants are then invited to provide critical comments, insights, information, data and suggestions drawn from their own organizations and activity areas. Particular attention is paid to identifying points of entry where all participants agree on key points, knowledge gaps or the need for specific research or pilot activities. In many cases, the regular meetings lead to sharing of information or further dialogue in electronic forums. Holding shared learning dialogues throughout the duration of a project encourages the engagement of external counterparts and decision-makers in project activities. Such dialogues also provide an immediate mechanism for feedback and help to ‘close the loop’ between knowledge generation, testing, dissemination and application.