USAID Learning Lab

Latest Episodes:

Fresh Perspectives: An Introduction to Pause & Reflect at USAID Jul 30, 2021

Take a listen as nine colleagues across the US Agency for International Development describe what "pause and reflect" means to them; why pausing is reflecting is important to USAID and international development; how to make a pause and reflect practice effective; and tips for success! Views expressed in this audio are solely those of the speakers; they do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Soundtrack: Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions

S3 Ep 7: Series Finale - the Future of Organizational Learning in International Development Jul 17, 2018

In this episode, the series finale, we hear from some of our thought leader contributors about the keys to the future of organizational learning in development. Today’s contributors are: - Gwen Hines, until recently the Director for International Relations, DFID - Kerry Albright, Chief of Research Facilitation & KM, UNICEF - Thom Sinclair, of CGAP, funded by the MasterCard Foundation and housed at the World Bank - Tony Pryor, Senior Advisor, USAID/PPL Listen as we discuss promising practices in the areas of collaborating, learning and adapting.

S3 Ep 6: How do organizations integrate learning into their daily work? Jul 10, 2018

Episode 6 of Leaders in Learning focuses on how organizations are integrating intentional learning into their day-to-day work. The three leaders contributing to this episode are: - Karen Mokate, Chief of Knowledge Management at the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) - Clive Martlew, Lead for Leadership and Learning at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) - Alison Evans, Chief Commissioner for the UK’s Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) The three themes that emerged during the conversation are: - Approaches need to be systematic, intentional and resourced. - Learning and KM approaches will only become sustainably integrated if there is a supportive culture. - Sustainability depends on clear and effective processes and tools.

S3 Ep 5: What is the role of formal and informal leadership in organizational learning? Jul 03, 2018

The focus of the fifth episode in the Leaders in Learning series is one of the most challenging questions that we routinely face: What is the role of formal and informal leadership in creating a learning organization? This episode builds on previous episodes in connecting components of leadership and effective learning organizations, a key connection that we see consistently. The contributing thought leaders for this episode are: - Thom Sinclair, Gateway Academy Team Lead at the Consultative Group to Address the Poor (CGAP) housed at the World Bank - Rob Cartridge, Head of Global Knowledge at Practical Action - Chris Collison, a leading independent KM and OL consultant

S3 Ep 4: What is the relationship between organizational culture and learning? Jun 26, 2018

The focus of this episode, our fourth in our Leaders in Learning series, focuses in on something we’ve touched on in previous episodes, particularly episode 2: what aspects of an organization’s culture contribute to its learning capacity? The contributing thought leaders for this episode are: - Chris Collison, a world-renowned independent consultant - Clive Martlew, Lead for Leadership and Learning at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) - Rob Cartridge, Head of Global Knowledge at Practical Action

S3 Ep 3: What is the role of evidence and data in organizational learning efforts? Jun 17, 2018

The focus of Leaders in Learning episode 3 is on one of the most challenging questions that we as leaders in organizational learning face on a regular basis, namely, "what is the role of evidence and data in organizational learning efforts?" The contributing thought leaders for this episode are: - Alison Evans, Chief Commissioner for the UK’s Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) - Kerry Albright, Chief of Research Facilitation and Knowledge Management at UNICEF - Duncan Green, Senior Strategic Advisor for OXFAM

S3 Ep 2: Why does learning matter in international development? Jun 13, 2018

Leaders in Learning is a 7-part podcast series hosted by Stacey Young, Senior Learning Advisor and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Team Lead in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning; and Piers Bocock, Chief of Party for the USAID LEARN contract. The series draws on interviews that Stacey and Piers conducted with a variety of thought leaders in organizational learning and knowledge management in the international development sector. In episode two, Piers and Stacey reflect on their conversations with Duncan Green, Gwen Hines, and Karen Mokate (pictured with Piers and Stacey, right) on the topic of why learning matters in international development. They frame learning as a tool for addressing complexity, improving the way teams and organizations work, and, most importantly, achieving better development results.

S3 Ep 1: Introducing: Leaders in Learning Jun 12, 2018

Leaders in Learning is a 7-part podcast series hosted by Stacey Young, Senior Learning Advisor and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Team Lead in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning; and Piers Bocock, Chief of Party for the USAID LEARN contract. The series draws on interviews that Stacey and Piers conducted with a variety of thought leaders in organizational learning and knowledge management in the international development sector. The first episode provides an overview of the series, including its purpose, theory of change, and the lineup of the experts whose interviews provide the food for thought in each episode.

S2 Ep 5: Stopping to Think: Why it Pays to Pause and Reflect May 28, 2018

In the fifth and final episode in the Inside Out series, we discuss a topic that we’ve touched on throughout the series: Pause and Reflect. Taking the time to Pause and Reflect is an essential CLA practice that leads to evidence-based decision making and adaptation. First, we’ll explore evidence that group reflection leads to learning and decision-making. Next, we will discuss two opportunities for USAID staff and partners to use Program Cycle processes to pause and reflect. In our third segment, we discuss some of the ways that our team has built Pause and Reflect moments into the way we work. While this series is wrapping up, we’ve got another one in the works! Listen until the end of this episode for a preview of our upcoming series, Leaders in Learning, which will be released starting in mid-June 2018.

S2 Ep 4: Staying in the Loop: How to Learn from your Data May 18, 2018

Evidence-based decision-making is a powerful tool for transforming USAID from the Inside Out. In this episode, we’ll talk about where we see this happening in other industries, and why it can be challenging at USAID. We will also discuss two examples of innovative learning initiatives at USAID missions.

S2 Ep 3: Meeting Strategically: How to Collaborate, But Not Too Much May 12, 2018

In this episode, we discuss look at evidence from the business sector on the negative effects of over-collaboration. Next, we reflect on the way our teams collaborate and then talk about six strategies for strategic collaboration and what they look like at USAID.

S2 Ep 2: Staying Curious, Together: How to Create a Learning Culture May 07, 2018

In this episode, we’ll discuss the key ingredients in a learning culture. First, we define what we mean by a learning culture. Next, we look at research that examines the relationship between CLA and measures of staff satisfaction and empowerment at USAID. And in our third segment, we talk about a successful staff empowerment initiative at a USAID mission.

S2 Ep 1: Going Beyond Technical Skills: How to Build an Adaptive Team Apr 28, 2018

If change starts with people, then what should we consider when building collaborative, learning-focused teams? When development isn’t a linear process and success depends on much more than a set of technical skills, what kinds of skills and qualities should you look for when hiring? In this episode, you’ll hear from three development practitioners with insight on this question. (And if you’re wondering how to build a learning culture on your existing team, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to tune in to our next episode, which is on this very topic.)

S2 Ep 0: Introducing: From the Inside Out Apr 23, 2018

USAID Learning Lab is back with a new podcast series called From the Inside Out: Achieving Better Development Outcomes through Collaborating, Learning and Adapting. Our four-episode pilot series, Collaborating, Learning and Adapting at USAID, provided an overview of the concept of CLA and featured deep-dive CLA case studies. This new series was designed to empower USAID staff and partners with evidence, tips and tools to collaborate, learn, and adapt in their day-to-day work. Listen as Stacey Young, Senior Learning Advisor and CLA Team Lead in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning, Ian Lathrop, Communications Manager on the USAID LEARN contract, and Amy Leo, Communications Specialist on the USAID LEARN contract, discuss evidence on these topics from development and other fields, and reflect on their own work experience.

S1 Ep 4: Adapting for Better Development Results Jun 05, 2017

This is the final episode in our series on how USAID is collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) with a look at the “A” in CLA: adapting. International development work is often criticized for not being locally led or context aware. By encouraging a CLA approach, USAID is creating space for staff and partners to adapt their strategies and projects in response to their operating environment and stakeholder feedback. Listen as we explore three USAID projects that have adapted and scaled up in response to lessons learned and changes in their local context. Find out what happened when: - A youth unemployment project in Tunisia wasn’t yielding jobs - A gender project in Jordan wasn’t meeting the community’s expectations - A multi-sector resilience project in the Sahel was designed to integrate CLA practices, and project managers identified opportunities for strategic collaboration In closing, USAID Foreign Service Officer David Ratliff explains what CLA has to do with Star Wars!

S1 Ep 3: How (and Why) is USAID Learning? Apr 25, 2017

In fall 2016, USAID updated its operational policy to reflect its commitment to organizational learning. So how is USAID learning? And why does learning matter? Episode 3 of the USAID Learning Lab podcast zeroes in on the “L” in collaborating, learning and adapting at the project and organizational levels. First, we look at learning at the project level. Listen as Nathan Morrow, an associate research professor at Tulane University and finalist in the 2016 CLA Case Competition, explains how a resilience project in Somalia is using data collected via mobile communication technology to inform real-time program adaptations. And next, USAID LEARN monitoring, evaluation, research and learning specialists Laura Ahearn and Matthew Baker discuss a tool used throughout USAID for intentional and systematic learning at the organizational level: learning agendas. In closing, USAID Learning Lab members share why learning matters to them. Access the resources mentioned in this episode here: ow.ly/BJYX30bbGzE

S1 Ep 2: Stop, Collaborate and Listen Mar 28, 2017

We get a lot of requests for examples of what collaborating, learning and adapting looks like in practice. So in this episode, we’re zeroing in on the C in CLA, collaboration, with three case studies. In our first story, an ambitious Program Manager applies the principles of human centered design to workshop facilitation. Next, I’ll speak with someone who is using digital storytelling to build bridges between women in South Africa. And third, Bari Rabin shares about facilitating a collaborative process among an unlikely group of stakeholders in Guatemala. In the closing, LEARN Chief of Party Piers Bocock reflects on about what jazz can teach us about collaboration.

S1 Ep 1: How USAID is Hacking International Development from the Inside Out Feb 06, 2017

This is the pilot episode of the USAID Learning Lab podcast: How USAID is Hacking International Development from the Inside Out. Collaborating, learning, and adapting, or CLA, is an approach that recognizes the complexities of international development and empowers practitioners to use continuous learning and adaptation to strengthen their strategies and programs. Hear from four development practitioners responsible for shaping and evaluating the impact of CLA.

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