Case Studies: Dissemination & Lesson Learning
Cameroon, Mount Cameroon Project (Phase 2 & Exit), 1999-2002, UK Department for International Development
The project developed mechanisms for resource use and conservation in the high conservation value forests of Mount Cameroon. The project was based in the Limbe Botanic Garden, which was transformed into a semi-autonomous and viable research, training and information management institution providing services in participatory biodiversity conservation. During the final months LTS facilitated development and implementation of a dissemination strategy. Project staff were supported in a process of reflection on their experience and learning. LTS provided a two-level service, both mentoring staff through the writing process, and editing and writing paper after learning sessions. All outputs were attributed only to the MCP staff and the products had no reference to LTS. The process produced: 5 policy briefing notes to influence policy-change, The Cameroon Mountains Biodiversity and Livelihoods series (5 technical papers, with authorship attributed to project staff), Posters to support key issues.
Malawi, Improved Forest Management for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, 2006-2009, European Commission
This national-level sector Programme (IFMSLP) contributes towards improving decentralised forestry governance through building capacity of district-level service delivery, and promoting multi-stakeholder involvement in the management of forest areas. One of the main result areas of this Programme is the promotion of communication and advocacy within and between stakeholder groups. To enable this, a Communication and Learning Strategy has been developed, through a participatory approach. The Strategy supports implementation and impact of the IFMSLP by Ensuring appropriate awareness of the IFMSLP issues amongst the right groups of people.Engaging priority interaction groups with IFMSLP activities (including planning, implementation and evaluation stages) so that they are active and constructive partners in change.Promoting a learning & sharing culture amongst the FD and its priority interaction groups that supports improved motivation, performance, information and action.Influencing and promoting supportive political will and enabling arrangements (policy and legislation) through advocacy and lobbying. The Strategy focuses on using a process approach, mainstreaming better communications into all aspects of the IFMSLP, rather than operating a stand-alone set of events, products or activities. This will involve IFMSLP and FD staff engaging stakeholders pro-actively and partnering with other organisations to use the most appropriate channels of communication.
Malawi, Social Forestry Training and Extension Project, 1997-2003, European Commission
The EC-funded pilot project (1997-2003) was designed to develop the capacity of the Malawi Forestry Department to interpret and implement NFP with an emphasis on encouraging participatory social forestry. The project had drafted a dissemination strategy through which to share the lessons learned from implementation of the SFTEP (in the 5 pilot districts) with a wider audience in Malawi. The strategy included: identifying and developing the key project lessons; producing appropriate documents to share these lessons with the right audiences. This all had to be achieved in a short time-frame - before the final end-of-project. LTS implemented this dissemination strategy. A set of policy briefing notes were produced, along with a set of "Practice Notes" to guide district forestry staff/practitioners through current issues. These were complemented by presentation material to support the project's outcomes. These products have been widely distributed and highly valued in Malawi.
Uganda, Forest Sector Policy and Strategy Project, Ministry of Water, Lands & Environment, 1999-2004, UK Department for International Development
The FSPSP has been at the heart of forest sector reform processes in Uganda from 1999-2004. It has produced a number of briefing notes for use within Uganda to inform the stakeholders of issues and reform progress. Towards the end of the Project, it wanted to share the lessons learned from implementation of the reform processes with a wider audience internationally. It was decided that this would best be done through a series of nine 'process learning notes' that would share the real experiences of reform to help others going through similar processes. Each note focused on what particular sub-process (e.g. policy development, planning the new institutions, influencing, sector co-ordination). LTS facilitated the drafting of these notes and to help complete other documents, in recognition of the limited time available to project staff.
Worldwide, Darwin Initiative Monitoring and Evaluation, 2003-2009, UK Department for Environmental Affairs
The Darwin Initiative of the UK Government supports biodiversity conservation projects worldwide through grant-aid. Building on from a successful Phase I, LTS now provides the overall inputs for the monitoring and evaluation project on behalf of the Darwin Secretariat of Defra.This phase of the Darwin Initiative has recognised strongly the need to reflect on and analyse experience to date, and share lessons from that experience. LTS co-ordinates thematic evaluations: each results in easy-to-access briefing materials as well as a full study report. Learning in the DI is based on regular workshops for Project Leaders, assessment of reports and evaluations, and thematic evaluations which involve extensive communication with DI projects. The outcomes support learning amongst DI projects for improved performance and help to promote the impacts of and lessons from the DI more widely. Products so far include: "Making the most of Protected Areas" - Learning note, "Biodiversity and livelihoods" - Learning note, "Achievements in support of the Global Taxonomy Initiative"- Thematic Evaluation and Learning note. The Learning Notes are available from the Darwin Secretariat/Defra or from LTS Forthcoming/expected: "Biodiversity conservation & Islands" - Thematic Evaluation and Learning note, "Awareness-raising" - Thematic Evaluation and Learning note, "Forest Biodiversity" - Thematic Evaluation and Learning note
