PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
CONNECT
LEARN
COLLABORATE
CONNECT
LEARN
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES The peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange methodology has the potential to upend traditional methods of learning, networking, leadership development and
COLLABORATE
PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING The transfer of knowledge, skills or technologies among individuals or groups who
partnership building. In 2013, the VVLead Fellowship* launched its first P2P
have expertise from field or
exchange in New Delhi, India with 11 women leaders from four countries.
lived experience
Since that time, we have organized exchanges on five continents with women leaders working across sectors, issue areas and countries who came together to Connect, Learn
PEER-TO-PEER EXCHANGES
and Collaborate with one another. While the findings presented herein come through working exclusively with women leaders, we recognize the opportunity to transfer these
Structured, non-hierarchical
practices to a broader audience. Through these exchanges, paired with an intensive
interactions that facilitate
research project, we have identified best practices and learnings that we are pleased to
peer-to-peer learning
share with program designers and implementers in the nonprofit sector and beyond in order to strengthen programs; enhance the exchange experience; fill gaps in existing literature; and amplify the dialogue around this important methodology.
WHAT P2P EXCHANGE DOES PROVIDES
CREATES
an opportunity for active learning, practitioner-
non-hierarchical learning spaces and
driven discussion, cross-pollination of ideas
processes where practitioners can share
and tools, and unconventional collaborations
their expertise, skills, perspectives and
throughout the entirety of the exchange
experiences, while learning from others
ENCOURAGES
FACILITATES
unusual and sustainable partnerships,
networks that are active, supportive and
reaching within and across sectors and focus
structurally sustainable
areas, extending from the local to the global
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
*In 2013, Vital Voices, with funding from the UK government’s Department of International Development established the VVLead Fellowship Program to support a global network of emerging and established women leaders who are addressing challenges and providing unusual and sustainable solutions to ensure full participation in society and the economy. VVLead’s activities are centered around the three pillars, Connect, Learn and Collaborate.
OVERVIEW
COLLABORATE
LEARN
CONNECT
TRUST IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXCHANGE. Set up relationships among P2P participants in advance of the exchange. Use information and communications technology (ICT) to host orientation sessions, answer questions and launch channels for discussion among participants. Once at the P2P, begin by setting individual objectives and rules for engagement – but be sure to have participants themselves decide these parameters.
KEEP IT SMALL Organize for and invite eight to 12 participants in order to: •
Incorporate time for one-onone interactions.
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Recognize individuals among the group for their expertise or input.
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Allow each participant to fully engage in every activity.
•
Develop trust among participants.
Small group size yields higher quality discussions, deeper relationships among participants, and longer-lasting and substantive connections after the exchange.
REINFORCE DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF THE EXCHANGE
BE PERSONAL Integrate activities in the P2P curriculum that enable personal reflection, trust-building and active engagement. •
•
Incorporate activities where participants articulate their sources of strength and tap into their self-confidence. When participants identify and believe in their own capabilities, they are better equipped to collaborate with others. Build a respectful space for open communication. Sharing personal experiences leads to deeper individual connections.
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
Value all participants equally, regardless of age, experience or rank. •
Facilitate activities that highlight the value that comes from different backgrounds, perspectives and skills.
•
Generate activities that rotate who is considered an “expert” on any particular subject.
A non-hierarchical system of knowledge transfer such as a P2P exchange must feel genuine. Inequitable relationships diminish all participants’ ability to connect and grow. Highlighting each participant as an individual increases buy-in to group activities.
CONNECT
CONNECT
LEARN
COLLABORATE
THE EXPERIENCE:
CONNECTING “[A] network – for me that is very important. [Now] I am going to have somebody that I can talk to or go to. Somebody that knows and understands how I think.” – Gabriela Garcia, Guatemala Fellow, 2014 VVLead Fellows consistently rate a personal and professional life “road mapping” exercise as the most useful P2P session in facilitating the development of significant relationships.
“I don’t think one goes around thinking ‘What are my accomplishments?’ But it’s good to think about them and put value to them. It reminds you of what you are and what your worth is and what you can pass on to other people. It’s just something I never really did. If you sat down and did that, you would be a bit more confident about life… It influences certain decisions as to how you want to go forward.”
The Vital Voices team has found that beginning the program with a “peeling layers” exercise to shed personal and professional guards enhances authentic and present participation by all.
– Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Ghana Fellow, 2013
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
CONNECT
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CONNECT
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PARTICIPANTS ARE ACTIVE, NOT AN AUDIENCE. Empower participants to actively engage in all workshops and learning sessions and emphasize the unique skills, knowledge, tools and ideas that each individual brings. Vary the composition of activities to ensure inclusivity for all learning styles – visual, auditory and kinesthetic – and foster opportunities for participants to draw upon their own expertise and experiences in each session.
FOCUS ON USER EXPERIENCE What do participants already know? What are their objectives? What challenges do they currently face? What new knowledge could be useful? •
Conduct a needs assessment before the P2P to tailor curriculum and activities. Don’t presume to know what participants want from the experience – ask them directly instead.
•
Think of the user’s experience when designing activities. Consider, “will this be accessible?”
•
Be conscientious of participants’ backgrounds, including their culture, language skills and education levels.
Recognizing the above, remember that no two P2P exchanges will be the same.
DESIGN PARTICIPANT-LED AND PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN SESSIONS Create training templates and prepare participants in advance of the exchange to ensure maximum use of time together. Even if engaging a professional facilitator, craft all activities to be participant-driven. •
Empower participants to act as reciprocal consultants and coaches to one another.
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Emphasize participant interaction as the focal point for new information in any session. For example, use a facilitator in a strategic planning workshop to enumerate technical steps of strategic planning, but convene participants together to create, consult on, or edit each other’s plans.
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Assign participants with responsibilities for each session to increase buy-in.
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Foster the democratic nature of exchange by having participants serve as trainers.
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Allocate time for all participants to share their specific expertise.
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
INTEGRATE SITE VISITS A democratic exchange does not necessarily mean a neutral geographic location. If an exchange is close to a practitioner’s workplace, plan site visits to contribute to the active learning experience. Before a site visit, clearly articulate the objectives of the excursion to the practitioner. For example, the overall goal may be that participants gain enhanced knowledge and tools regarding best practices, methodologies and models that are relevant to their own work. Use a structured workplace tour and engagement with relevant stakeholders to highlight themes and topics from the P2P sessions.
LEARN
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THE EXPERIENCE:
LEARNING “There was so much to learn from the speed learning and presentations… We were all experts in our own context. I think it helped me to think of things very differently.” Vital Voices has incorporated a “speed training” session in which each fellow has seven minutes to teach her colleagues about a particular program methodology, followed by seven minutes of question and answer.
– Jane Anyango, Kenya Fellow, 2014
“In some cases, it was inspirational; in others, I got great practice ideas… I found people in whom I could trust, which is so important [and] I realized I could also be
100 % 100% of VVLead Fellows who engaged in reciprocal client-consultant sessions at a P2P exchange rated the session as “very useful” in post-program surveys.
useful for them.” – Anya Victoria Delgado, Mexico Fellow, 2013
“The P2P Exchange is an opportunity to stretch your brain and let knowledge in.” – Nicole Joseph-Chin, Trinidad & Tobago Fellow, 2015
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
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FOLLOW-UP STARTS DURING THE EXCHANGE. Take advantage of time together in person to begin establishing plans for tangible outcomes and long-term collaboration within the group. Refer back to each participant’s objectives, as identified at the start of the P2P. As the exchange is wrapping up, create the space for individuals to develop post-P2P action plans with a lens on harnessing the connections, learnings and opportunities for collaboration with peers.
FACILITATE MUTUAL INVESTMENT Transition to long-lasting professional and personal relationships through working sessions that facilitate partnerships. For example, organize a session during which participants: •
Pitch ideas to each other.
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Vote on the most interesting, relevant and innovative pitches.
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Form collaboration teams to develop action steps to translate the pitch from idea to reality.
FOSTER COLLABORATIVE COMMITMENTS Develop tools for participants to establish their commitments to work with one another following the program. •
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CREATE STRUCTURED FOLLOW-UP Harness participant energy during and after a P2P exchange into structured follow-up. In order to facilitate lasting collaboration, exchange organizers should consider the following:
Offer a session during which individuals identify tangible means of support for other participants, including timeline, specific commitment and resources involved.
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Serve as conduits for external accountability. Coordinate pre-planned check-ins to determine progress postexchange (monthly, after three or six months, etc.).
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Establish a timeline and template for selfreporting on progress.
Generate accountability and facilitate followthrough by producing a written document – or “promise tracker” – for all parties involved with a collaboration to complete.
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Use online platforms, listservs, social media and other ICT means to support future participant interaction, including the creation of Facebook or WhatsApp groups.
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Develop a follow-up P2P: discuss progress made; identify best practices, lessons learned and new challenges; and create a forum to continue collaborative initiatives.
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
COLLABORATE
CONNECT
LEARN
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THE EXPERIENCE:
COLLABORATING “For me, collaboration is the key… I believe the problem is so big – you’re never going to solve it yourself. The more effective collaborations you have, the better it is. If After one exchange session, nine fellows from seven countries (and three continents) collaborated to operationalize a pitch and create their own consulting company. With a registered company, the group will seek other fellows’ organizations as clients.
you think of the cohort as a team, in certain places, they have had more experiences than me. I just have to take a back seat and be open to learning. In other places, I have strengths or skills that they don’t have. It is up to me to share it with them.” – Elsa Marie D’Silva, India Fellow, 2014
88.46% 88.46% of VVLead Fellows who have participated in a P2P exchange report using their “promise tracker,” or accountability document, on collaboration projects six months after the program.
“The mosaic of participants complemented each other beautifully to draw deep, long-lasting connections and impact [together].” – Xiomara Diaz, Nicaragua Fellow, 2015
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
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PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES
Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders
public leadership, and end violence against women. Our
who improve the world. Founded by former U.S. Secretary
programs in strategic planning, business, advocacy and
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and guided by the belief
communications build critical skills needed for creating
that women are essential to progress in their communities,
transformational change at scale. Through our global
we partner with leaders from more than 140 countries who
platform, women leaders expand their connections and
advance economic opportunity, increase political and
visibility, accelerating shared progress for all.
The VVLead Fellowship supports a global network of
another at all levels of society, VVLead is a critical step in
emerging and established women leaders who provide
this response. The fellowship offers participants unique
unusual and sustainable solutions to pressing problems
opportunities — both through an online platform and in-
that have impeded women and girls’ progress to participate
person at peer-to-peer and South-to-South exchanges —
fully in society and the economy. Recognizing that in order
to share information, obtain resources and tools, mentor
to advance the causes of women, women themselves
and be mentored and receive training through offerings
must connect with, empower, equip and inspire one
tailored to meet their needs, goals and objectives.
AUTHORS: Emma Hersh, senior program manager, Global Programs, Vital Voices Global Partnership Anna Applebaum, McLarty Global Fellow, Vital Voices Global Partnership To access the full report, “The Effectiveness of Peer-to-Peer Exchange as a Tool for Women’s Leadership Development,” please visit www.vitalvoices.org or contact Emma Hersh at EmmaHersh@vitalvoices.org.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Developing and implementing peer-to-peer exchanges throughout the year requires the hard work of a dedicated team. Special thanks to Jana Spacek, senior program coordinator; Laura Thompson, program coordinator; Elyse Gainor, program assistant; and Elizabeth Andrews, monitoring and evaluation specialist.
VITAL VOICES GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF:
DONNA AND THOMAS MCLARTY AND THE MCLARTY GLOBAL FELLOWS PROGRAM