Linking and Learning
linking and learning before), and for us, Voice teams. It inspired us to find different ways of supporting grantees to see and understand the potential value of sharing and connecting to others. We also shifted the perception from Linking and Learning as a series of activities, to embracing it as an ongoing process. A process where all initiatives are based on consultation and founded on co-creation, coming together in such a way that it organically connects to the challenges of the grantee organisations and rightsholders projects initiatives, as well as their ways of working. By now most countries have redesigned the linking and learning paths suiting their country’s situation and civil society. Eight out of ten countries chose a new grantee partner for the facilitation of the in-country linking and learning activities. Based on prior experiences and inspiration from other countries and based on a deeper understanding of the Linking and Learning processes they envision. Again in 2021, we could hardly meet face to face and were asked to show flexibility and creativity in our pro- fessional and private lives. However, some countries saw relatively few limitations due to the pandemic like Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Laos. Several face-to-face events took place here and organisations were able to meet up and learn together offline. Yet most remained online. Therefore, it wasn’t possible to catch up with all plans for Indabas and Knowledge Exchanges that stem
Linking and Learning is the second core component of the Voice programme that contributes to the achieve- ment of the overall results framework. It is a process centred on grantee partners and rightsholder groups co-creating opportunities to interact and learn with each other in an enabling environment where they are the ones who lead the way Last year around this time we looked back and described 2020 as a year of amazing resilience and adaptability and creativity, a year to remember. Since then, we took a deep dive in linking and learning since the inception of Voice six years ago. These deeper reflections happened the second half of 2021. So, 2021 closed with the writing of a learning docu- ment, bringing together experiences and lessons on the contributions grantee partners made to have soci- ety listen to their voices and seeing them for who they are. Human beings with all their rights and dreams. We also reflected on Voice as a grant facility for diversity, inclusion and innovation, and lastly, a reflection on Linking and Learning. One important lesson drawn is to better listen to grantee partners, how they perceive the Linking and Learning component. Through trial and unlearning and being open to do new things, linking and learning came to life over the past six years; for the grantee partners (many of whom hadn’t really thought about
from 2019/20, but we had a huge party for Voice@5, as mentioned earlier in this report. Another big learning was on the essential role of taking time to build trust and open relationships with individual grantee partners as well as the collective. This continues to inform innovations in our Linking and Learning practice, different online tools we’re using and constant awareness of the need to adapt our online habits to what works best. Shorter and active, creative sessions is one way to go. We are also very aware of the digital divide and the fact that the online sessions are less accessible in areas of low connectivity and for rightsholders participating in the different grantee projects. This automatically has an impact on the reach and character of the linking and learning activities. At the same time, we are aware of some of the advantages of online sessions, like the possibility to reach many more participants at once, to have other stakeholders join easily and without extra costs, and alike. This also poses challenges, like how to create and hold a space that feels safe to most participants. And how to check in on that when most participants cannot
even use their video due to bandwidth limitations? Therefore, we need to be mindful talking about safe spaces and include specific mindfulness exercises that inspire open and authentic conversations. A similar thinking can be applied to the communities of practice. A lot was learned during phase one on the usefulness and set up of communities of practice. Key: they have to make sense to the owners and partici- pants in the community of practice and they have to be on topics and issues of interest to them. As Voice, our role is to facilitate them. Just that. In 2021 we also realised a request expressed by the grantee partners: we included an extra 50.000 euros in the budget of the Linking and Learning facilitating organisations to respond to joint and inter grantee activities that find their roots in other linking and learning events and activities. So far, we had no possi- bility to make these joint dreams come true. Now we
Linking and Learning facilitating organisation Live and Learn Cambodia pose for a photo session during a past linking and learning activity.
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