For the purpose of the PLI, the KPSRL Secretariat defines programmatic learning as:

the process of capturing and distilling insights to drive adaptive programming and portfolio management, and doing so informing partners, donors and the wider SRoL sector through KPSRL’s network. 

The overarching goal of the PLI was to enable stakeholders working in the SRoL sector to enhance the quality and impact of their policymaking, programming, implementation, and learning by facilitating and incentivising the co-creation and collective implementation of improved approaches to programmatic learning. 

In the period 2022-2024, the KPSRL refined the concept of programmatic learning, design processes, methodological approaches, and procedures for it, and funded pilots projects with the aim of implementing the PLI at scale in the post 2024 period.

PLI Clusters

In the period 2022-2024, the KPSRL refined the concept of programmatic learning, design processes, methodological approaches, and procedures for it, and set templates and contractual documents to implement the PLI at scale in the post 2024 period.  

The KPSRL used part of the PLI budget in the 2022-2024 period to set up pilot projects by engaging the Dutch MFA and its programming partners (including country partners) in the process of co-creating and embedding learning into programming, and part of the PLI budget for funding research and reflection activities to gather lessons learned from other experiences, such as from other knowledge platforms of the Dutch MFA and other learning interventions (non-pilot projects). 

PLI pilot projects brought together multiple implementing partners working on programmes funded essentially by the MFA. Varying greatly in size (e.g. thirty thousand or two hundred thousand of PLI budget), they were fully dependent on the size of the programs and their learning needs. The projects engaged the Dutch MFA and its programming partners (including country partners) in the process of co-creating and embedding learning into programming.  

The PLI portfolio of pilot projects focused on:

  • the locally led development approach

  • relationships with counterpart government, and

  • learning needs emerging from practice (for example, sustainability and integration of cross cutting issues. 

The non-pilots’ projects were knowledge projects that collected and made sense of experiences of other programmatic learning programmes and identified lessons learned that could be useful for future programming and policy processes. They included research activities as well as exchanges of experiences.

In parallel, the KPSRL Secretariat invested in an internal learning journey aiming to systematically experiment and reflect on programmatic learning through pilots and non-pilots activities and draw implications for the post 2024 shape of the  PLI.  

Pilots

  • Demining – Danish Refugee Council & MCPA.

As part of the Dutch funded MACM II Programmatic Learning Agenda, DRC in partnership with MCPA have conducted an inclusive and partner-steered process of discussing what localization means in Afghanistan and what ways are open for the international community to engage with National implementing partners of demining action. This project runs from  March 2023  to December 2024.

  • Demining - Halo & IHSCO.

As part of the Dutch funded MACM II Programmatic Learning Agenda, Halo Trust in partnership with IHSCO has designed and implemented a “co-created learning process” on the theme of localisation in the Humanitarian Mine Action sector in Iraq. This included reviewing lessons learned from previous localisation efforts, convening local and international actors in Iraq to discuss localisation, and commissioning joint research on the topic. This project was run from March 2023  to  July 2024.

  • Power in Partnerships - Plan International.

Plan international is working on exchanging knowledge & learnings on collaboration in strategic partnerships, starting from sharing and making sense of a study conducted in 2022 on elements of successful partnerships.This project runs from August 2023 to July 2024.  

  • Dutch bilateral programme to Somalia - Media INK and consortium partners.

The Dutch bilateral SRoL programme to Somalia is generating and sharing knowledge from the SRoL bilateral programme in Somalia on localisation, sustainability, the integration of cross-cutting themes (such as mental health and psychosocial support, gender equality, climate change, and inclusion of vulnerable groups), and government engagement. This learning project runs from  March 2023 to  December 2024.

  • Propel software tool - Sthrive.

Propel is a pioneering software solution that provides development organisations with a solution to integrate continuous learning into their programming to build organisational memory of learning activities. With PLI funding, Strhive is conducting research and engagement activities to enhance its understanding of the role of tools such as Propel in programmatic and organisational learning. This learning project runs from  September 2023 to October 2024.

Non-Pilots

  • Research on country led knowledge brokering 

This project led by Broker in partnership with four of the Dutch knowledge platforms – INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law, the Netherlands Food Partnership, and Share-Net International, delved into the complexities of knowledge brokering in international development partnerships. The collaborative research distilled lessons from the KPs knowledge brokering work in partnership with LMIC actors regarding their ambitions , activities, roles and added value in contributing to more inclusive sustainable development.

  • Collaborative Study 

The KPSRL Secretariat commissioned a collaborative study to support the refinement of the Programmatic Learning Instrument as well as to support the role of the KPSRL in providing advice on options available for learning interventions to policymakers and programming partners. The study (which is based,  on in-depth discussions with seven organizations and initiatives in late 2023 and early 2024 and a survey of relevant literature),  culminated into a resource guide is intended to serve as a resource and reference for practitioners, policymakers and others working in the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding (HDP) nexus and interested in better understanding the issues of learning and programmatic learning, how programmatic learning occurs, how uptake following learning happens, and what prevents more consistent and meaningful uptake.

Specific recommendations were also made to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Directorate-General for International Cooperation leadership based on key findings of the Study.

 

Internal Learning Journey

The learning journey of the KPSRL aims to systematically experiment and reflect on programmatic learning through pilots and non-pilots activities and draw implications for the post 2024 shape of the PLI.

The PLI umbrella learning journey took an integrated learning approach, combining data and reflections collected from different sources namely:

  • the implementation of four pilot PLI projects: De-mining, Dutch bilateral program to Somalia, Power in partnerships, and Propel (see above).
  • insights emerging from four knowledge activities (hereafter called “non-pilots”) such as the Research on country led knowledge brokering and the Collaborative Study on programmatic learning (see above).

Insights emerging from the internal learning journey will be posted here once available. 

All PLI Publications

PLI Events
05 Feb 2024
KPSRL
Virtually Accessible
Exploring the Role of Tools for Programmatic Learning
Are you passionate about advancing programmatic learning? Join us at KPSRL and Propel in our innovative research project "Tools for Programmatic Learning" on 5 February from 15:30-17:00 (CET). Objective of the research: The Programmatic Learning Instrument (PLI) is a funding instrument of the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law (KPSRL) to support programmatic learning across security and rule of law programming. As part of the PLI, the KPSRL is currently running pilots and commissioning a study to enhance their understanding of how approaches to programmatic learning can and should be structured to effectively contribute to quality and impact of programmes. Our joint research endeavour seeks to deepen the understanding of using tools - such as Propel - within the realm of the Security and Rule of Law (SRoL) sector and their role for programmatic learning. Project Focus: With this research collaboration, we aim to uncover the role of tools in programmatic and organisational learning. We aim to address key questions, such as: "What role do tools play in the SRoL sector's programmatic and organisational learning?" and "How can the integration of digital tools, including Propel, within the PLI framework be optimised for enhanced learning, collaboration, and impactful outcomes?" Why participate? By participating in this project, you will have the chance to:  1)     Exchange Insights: Collaborate with peers on the topic of programmatic learning and innovative approach to learning, specifically in the SRoL sector to exchange ideas and insights. 2)     Deepen Understanding: Gain a profound understanding of both organisational and programmatic learning. During this first session, you can contribute your own learning questions that you have wanted to uncover for us to investigate throughout this project. 3)     Explore Tools: Discover how complementary tools like Propel and approaches used in the Programmatic Learning Instrument can support learning processes. We will invite you to follow along with our progress and explore the findings with us. How to join? We invite you to join the kick-off of this research project. We invite partners and organisations in the network of KPSRL to join us in validating our learning questions as well as contribute their feedback and insights. On 5 February, 2024, we will hold a 90 minutes online collaborative exploration session and invite you to join us. Please click here to download the concept note.
04 Jun 2024
KPSRL
Online - Zoom
Making learning work: Digital tools for the Security and Rule of Law Sector
Are you driven to advance programmatic learning? We invite you to join KPSRL and Propel in our research initiative, "Tools for Programmatic Learning” on June 4th at 14:000, CET (postponed from May 21). Background The Programmatic Learning Instrument (PLI) plays a crucial role at the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law (KPSRL), aiming to enhance learning and capacity building in the Security and Rule of Law (SRoL) sector. Our collaboration with Propel aims to explore how tools can effectively enhance learning outcomes. This initiative is a pivotal part of our broader engagement with the Propel Community of Practice (CoP), a dynamic group dedicated to fostering collective impact in international development. Our research aims to evaluate the role of tools, particularly Propel, in supporting programmatic learning initiatives within the SRoL sector. By analysing Propel's functionality and alignment with partner organizations' needs, we seek to identify areas of success and improvement, ultimately providing actionable recommendations for optimizing programmatic learning within the SRoL sector. With this being said, our joint research endeavour seeks to deepen the understanding of using tools - such as Propel - within the realm of the Security and Rule of Law (SRoL) sector and their role for programmatic learning. This Event We invite you to join us in this phase of the research project to validate and reflect on the initial findings. Join us on June 4th, 2024 at 14:00 (CET), for a 90-minute collaborative session for the second webinar of this trajectory to hear more challenges and opportunities to enhance the role of tools in programmatic learning.  We will provide an overview of our research collaboration, uncovering the role of tools for programmatic learning and cover two main objectives during the session: Unpack challenges and opportunities for programmatic learning identified through engagement with different actors as part of the research; Launch of the Community of Practice. We aim to explore the findings together and provide practical insights about how to do programmatic learning more effectively. Click here to download the pdf with more information.