Khanya-aicdd briefing 1: emerging lessons on action learning

Action learning is about learning from actions and applying what is learnt back into the next experience, an ongoing process. This briefing presents lessons of how to use action learning to improve the development and implementation of policies and practices that actually benefit the poor. The briefing suggests that action learning processes can improve the design and implementation of programmes in conditions where those with power decide that these processes are desirable.

It provides some insight into the concept of action learning, describing it as an alternative to conventional development practice while highlighting a number of lessons emerging out of this practice. The research was based on five detailed case studies drawn from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and was led by Khanya-aicdd and funded by the Southern African Trust.

Key emerging lessons include:

• the importance of effective identification, involvement and commitment of partners from the outset for the action learning process to work effectively
• multi-stakeholder partnerships linking government at different levels and civil society seem to be very effective at innovating and institutionalising change
• level of funding is not a critical factor, providing partners bring the resources they use for implementation
• flexibility of design is critical, as is the facilitation process, both by a project coordinator and shared leadership by partners
• a commitment to a reflective approach is essential if lessons are to be learned and implications addressed
• tension and conflict is natural in all processes, and this has to be facilitated effectively. In fact “success” can lead to competition as other agencies see the initiative as invading their space
• the initiatives all have impacts on policy and practice, as well as on the confidence and capacity of partners. A challenge still remains on how to ensure effective upscaling.