Enhancing partner and system-level learning: 8 Tips from MEL Managers

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Enhancing partner and system-level learning: 8 Tips from MEL Managers
Abstract
Effective learning is a key driver of market systems change, with the potential to enhance system competitiveness, resilience, and inclusiveness. Shifting the Locus of Learning: Catalyzing Private Sector Learning to Drive Systemic Change recently outlined a rationale for enhancing the scale and quality of learning in a system and identifying 10 strategies programs can contextualize to catalyze learning. These strategies are also backed with robust examples from 13 programs doing this work across 11 countries. To deepen insights on what MSD Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Managers have experienced in putting several of those strategies into practice, the Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Activity convened a series of peer discussions as part of a larger initiative (see Figure 1). This brief shares the collective learning and experience on this topic of three senior MEL Managers who were interested in and had experience with this topic. The group represented full-time, program-based MEL Leads working on MSD programs funded by USAID and DFAT, based in Fiji, Albania, and Kosovo working for Adam Smith International, SwissContact, and DT Global, respectively. From those discussions, this paper synthesizes eight tips from MEL Managers for practically enhancing partner and system-level learning: 1. Identify the right decision-maker(s) at potential partners. 2. Use a co-creation process to identify learning opportunities. 3. Use diagnostics and assessments to strengthen partner and system capacity for actionable learning. 4. Use a phased capacity strengthening process tied to behavior change. 5. Measure partners’ continued investment in and use of learning—not the continuation of specific learning activities. 6. Work with sector-level institutions for scale but be aware of risks. 7. Leverage informal communities of practice to share learning. 8. Use the right terminology to talk about partner and system-focused learning.
Report Number
3
Series Title
MSD in MEL Brief
Institution
USAID
Date
2023
Language
en
Accessed
02/10/2023, 09:38
Library Catalogue
Zotero
Citation
Gover, D., Nasution, Z., Okutu, D., Bolder, M., & Henao, L. (2023). Enhancing partner and system-level learning: 8 Tips from MEL Managers (No. 3; MSD in MEL Brief). USAID. https://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/media/file/MSD%20in%20MEL%20Brief%203_PS%20Learning_508.pdf