Review of CoP-MfDR Pilot PhaseReview of CoP-MfDR Pilot Phase

Third International Roundtable on Managing for Development Results Third International Roundtable on Managing for Development Results Hanoi, Vietnam February 5-8, 2007Hanoi, Vietnam February 5-8, 2007

Sharing Experiences and Lessons Learned

ObjectivesObjectives

To share the experience of pilot To share the experience of pilot operation of CoP-MfDR in terms of operation of CoP-MfDR in terms of achievements, progress, issues and achievements, progress, issues and challengeschallenges

To share and discuss the lessons To share and discuss the lessons learned for replication and scale-up in learned for replication and scale-up in other regions other regions

Introduction of CoPIntroduction of CoP

The The “community of practice”“community of practice” is a is a particular type of network that features particular type of network that features peer-to-peer collaborative activities to build peer-to-peer collaborative activities to build member skills as well as organizational and member skills as well as organizational and societal capabilities.societal capabilities.

Organizations and researchers use a Organizations and researchers use a variety of terms to describe similar variety of terms to describe similar phenomena, such as “learning networks,” phenomena, such as “learning networks,” “knowledge communities,” “competency “knowledge communities,” “competency net-works,” “thematic groups,” etc.net-works,” “thematic groups,” etc.

The essential features of The essential features of CoP-MfDRCoP-MfDR are: are:

Demand driven

Peer to PeerLearning

VLN

Informal

Voluntary

Background of CoP-MfDRBackground of CoP-MfDR

Launched in March 2006 with the vision:Launched in March 2006 with the vision: ‘‘To contribute to the enhancement of To contribute to the enhancement of

sustainable capacity for results management sustainable capacity for results management among countries in Asia and the Pacific’.among countries in Asia and the Pacific’.

with main focus:with main focus: To establish the mutual trust among To establish the mutual trust among

members, sharing their ideas, and members, sharing their ideas, and experiences through informal discussions.experiences through informal discussions.

with key practices thru VLN:with key practices thru VLN:

First such kind of effort (virtual learning First such kind of effort (virtual learning network) in developing countries with network) in developing countries with different languages and different different languages and different development stages and is totally a new development stages and is totally a new concept and a challenging initiative.concept and a challenging initiative.

CoP-MfDR Structure & Key FunctionsCoP-MfDR Structure & Key Functions

Four layered structure:Four layered structure: Coordinating CommitteeCoordinating Committee [5][5] Core group membersCore group members [30][30] MfDR experts and donor/partnersMfDR experts and donor/partners [20][20] Peripheral membersPeripheral members [100][100]

Commitment to contribute towards three key Commitment to contribute towards three key outcomes:outcomes: Improved institutional coordination and cooperation of Improved institutional coordination and cooperation of

planning, budgeting and implementing agencies planning, budgeting and implementing agencies within governments; within governments;

Enhanced capacity development thru sharing good Enhanced capacity development thru sharing good practices and information on MfDR,practices and information on MfDR,

Improved awareness-raising and country ownership Improved awareness-raising and country ownership thru deepened understanding of MfDR principles and thru deepened understanding of MfDR principles and practices. practices.

Structural LayersStructural Layers

Interim Coordination Committee Interim Coordination Committee (ICC) meetings(ICC) meetings

Online discussionsOnline discussions Expert-led discussion Expert-led discussion 4 topics4 topics On-line postings and commentsOn-line postings and comments 100 100

entriesentries National/sectoral, project,National/sectoral, project, 20 papers20 papers

& civil society & civil society CoP members contributedCoP members contributed 20 papers20 papers

on three MfDR themeson three MfDR themes Other key online activitiesOther key online activities

Monthly email newslettersMonthly email newsletters CoP members Q & A CoP members Q & A CoP-MfDR Library with Members’ Collection and CoP-MfDR Library with Members’ Collection and

Country FoldersCountry Folders MfDR Resource Center (250 files)MfDR Resource Center (250 files) MfDR Sourcebook translationMfDR Sourcebook translation

Progress & Key ActivitiesProgress & Key ActivitiesVLN OperationVLN Operation

Advantages of the CoP FormatAdvantages of the CoP Format

ParticipationParticipation Voluntary vs compulsoryVoluntary vs compulsory Developing countries’ voiceDeveloping countries’ voice Working level practitioners’ voiceWorking level practitioners’ voice Both mid-income and low-income developing Both mid-income and low-income developing

countriescountries NetworkingNetworking

Build relationship & trustBuild relationship & trust Learning experiencesLearning experiences

SustainabilitySustainability On-going vs single time activityOn-going vs single time activity Flexible vs time-bound Flexible vs time-bound

ModalityModality Free expressionFree expression Personal opinions vs official capacityPersonal opinions vs official capacity Informal vs informalInformal vs informal

Information sharingInformation sharing Resources—toolkits, reports, case studies etcResources—toolkits, reports, case studies etc On-line libraryOn-line library

Cost-effective Cost-effective

Issues and Challenges: Issues and Challenges:

Virtual Learning NetworkVirtual Learning Network

Relevance of topics / focus: Relevance of topics / focus: Language barrierLanguage barrier ““Online fatigue”Online fatigue” CoP Library needs improvementCoP Library needs improvement Technical / access / website problemsTechnical / access / website problems

Face-to-face eventsFace-to-face events

Build and maintain mutual trustBuild and maintain mutual trust Focus on implementation on the groundFocus on implementation on the ground To serve as milestones of online discussionsTo serve as milestones of online discussions Format (training, study tours, workshops)Format (training, study tours, workshops) Frequency and sizeFrequency and size

Demand-driven topic selectionDemand-driven topic selection Incentives for participationIncentives for participation Proper scheduling of online activitiesProper scheduling of online activities Address language problemAddress language problem

Country-based CoPs in native languageCountry-based CoPs in native language Address technical problemsAddress technical problems Scaling up of CoPScaling up of CoP

Develop country-based or network-based CoPs Develop country-based or network-based CoPs (core group members are focal points)(core group members are focal points)

Publish CoP member contributionsPublish CoP member contributions Link with other MfDR or similar networksLink with other MfDR or similar networks

Sustainable financingSustainable financing Co-financing from other development partnersCo-financing from other development partners Development partners reflect and respond to Development partners reflect and respond to

the voice of the CoPthe voice of the CoP

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

THANKSTHANKS