March 4-6: USAID Online Discussion on Becoming a More Effective Learning Organization

USAID’s Microenterprise Development office is hosting a “Speaker’s Corner” online discussion March 4-6 on “becoming a more effective learning organization”. Moderated by Jan Maes, each day will feature a guest facilitator. With the support of a small grant provided by USAID’s Microenterprise Development office, four organizations—Freedom from Hunger, CARE, Practical Action, and WOCCU—spent the last 20 months improving knowledge sharing and learning at a programmatic or organization-wide level. Building on their experiences, this online discussion will create a stimulating dialogue about the ways organizations can improve knowledge sharing and learning.

Each day, participants are invited to share their own experiences, questions and comments in the discussion forum:

• Day 1 (March 4): Understanding knowledge management and mapping knowledge assets and flow – Guest moderator: Sara Naab, Freedom from Hunger. Discussion will focus on how to gain a better understanding of knowledge management and learning, how to map existing knowledge assets and flow, and how to identify opportunities for improvement as well as potential barriers to new knowledge sharing and learning practices.
• Day 2 (March 5): Becoming more effective at learning – Guest moderator Luis (Lucho) Osorio, Practical Action. Based on existing needs, what steps can organizations or programs take, or what can you do personally to improve knowledge sharing and learning within your program or organization? What is the role of technology and how can you promote a learning culture?
• Day 3 (March 6): Measuring results and building support – Guest moderator Sybil Chidiac, CARE. How can organizations gauge the effectiveness of improved knowledge sharing and learning processes? How do you measure results and convince senior management, boards, and donors about the importance of ongoing knowledge sharing and learning efforts?

Please join us for this interactive dialogue. For more information, visit www.microlinks.org/learningorganizations. To register, please visit the Website or directly e-mail speakerscorner@microlinks.org.

Speaker’s Corners are a monthly feature of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s microLINKS Website, www.microlinks.org.