Networks and Communities of Practice – from own to shared knowledge

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is promoting a networking approach to learning for development. Learning from each other’s experiences and exchanging what we have learned when pursuing our practices is, we believe, the most effective way to boost the effectiveness of our operations and of our policy dialogue.

The aim of this webpage is to share our experience with the networking approach to learning. This is work in progress, since we continue learning what works best for which tasks. The site has two main foci:

• Under networks we start sharing our experience with the formal networks SDC introduced in 2008. Those networks have the institutional mandate to exchange knowledge and experience in certain thematic areas (e.g. Decentralization & Local Governance), and to upgrade thematic competence of their members. The site provides documentation and lessons learnt about the start-up of formal networks and about network management. Links to the Websites of SDC’s thematic networks are also provided.
• Under communities of practice we provide information, lessons learnt, links etc. on an informal and low-key form of collaborative learning. CoPs, as they are usually called, typically have tight bonding among members working in the same professional domain. Participation is voluntary, self motivation and group feel are strong driving forces. Trust and commitment contribute to a conducing learning atmosphere.