Institutional Learning

The SDC promotes a culture of individual and organisational learning both in-house and in its partnerships. Learning is not a goal in itself but rather a means to improving quality and effectiveness. To strengthen the culture of learning SDC know-how is conserved in networks and continuously developed. The promotion and maintenance of professional skills is one of the main challenges facing all development agencies – be it in terms of their own staff, or partner organisations.

Ideas freshly minted in an office or a laboratory often prove disappointing in the field. Every good solution to a development problem needs to be adapted to conditions on the terrain. That said, there is no point in trying to reinvent the wheel and squandering valuable resources.

Local is good – exchanges are better
Learning for better development also means adapting proven methods to one’s own circumstances, seeing if it works, reflecting on successes and failures and where necessary making corrections. Equally important from the learning perspective is to share one’s own experiences, take advantage of the experiences of others through exchanges, consider new ideas, question one’s own rules, organisational procedures and structures and adapt them, making improvements and passing them on.

The learning culture of the SDC
The SDC has been adapting its organisational structure since 2008, mainly in an effort to strengthen its basic learning culture. Since then learning has been increasingly promoted and supported in various areas: by means of special forms of organisation, offers for exchange and reflection, the development and dissemination of methodological instruments for more effectively designed learning and business processes with the appropriate electronic infrastructure. This means it is possible today to maintain, develop and exchange know-how through networks. The SDC is constantly updating its learning methods and ensures that the public can access this knowledge.

The SDC networks
Sustainable financing of waste disposal is a key development problem in many countries. The local authorities in Serbia deal with it quite differently from those in Burkina Faso. How can municipal authorities and their advisers learn about the best options for a given situation, and how to recognise outmoded practices? The SDC’s answer is simple – through networking.

Development and dissemination of good practices
The main task of the SDC networks is the development and dissemination of good practices in a given field, such as water or management questions, or finances: polishing and consolidating one’s own experiences, adopting others’ good ideas and promoting innovation. The SDC constantly develops its networks and provides access to its know-how.

The SDC networks link headquarters staff, field staff, the staff of partner organisations and researchers. Each network is coordinated and managed through a “Focal Point“. Members attend international network meetings on an annual or biannual basis. They exchange information via electronic platforms and ensure that it can be accessed on the Internet.

Network	Internet
Climate, Energy & Environment	http://www.sdc-climateandenvironment.net
Conflict & Human Rights
Decentralisation & Local governance	http://www.sdc-decentralization.net/
Disaster Risk Reduction	http://www.riskandsafetynet.ch/
Political Economy & Development
Education	http://www.sdc-education.net/
Employment & Income	http://www.sdc-employment-income.ch/
Health	http://www.sdc-health.ch/
Migration and Development	http://www.sdc-migration.ch/
Food security	http://www.sdc-foodsecurity.ch
Water	http://www.sdc-water.ch/
Gender Equality	http://www.sdc-gender-development.net/
Quality Assurance
Field Security
Finances
International Financial Institutions/UN Agencies/ Management for Development Results	http://www.sdc-multilateral.ch/

Person to contact on this topic:

Michèle Marin

Additional Information and Documents

Documents

Story Guide: Building bridges using narrative techniques
Story-telling aid
Download (PDF, 827 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] [es]
Order
Knowledge Management – on the Road to becoming a Learning Organization
Flyer (general alignment)
Download (PDF, 106 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] [it] [es]
Knowledge Management in Practice: The Five Principles
Flyer
Download (PDF, 121 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] [es]
Community of Practice (CoP) – from own to shared knowledge
Download (PDF, 350 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] [es]
Flyer Story Telling: Building bridges using narrative techniques
Download (PDF, 289 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] [es]

External Links

Selected Learning & Networking Methods
http://www.sdc-learningandnetworking.ch
SDC blog on the subject of Learning & Networking
http://www.sdc-learningandnetworking-blog.admin.ch