RCNs and sector learning: with differences in the detail, but all with increased recognition

Published on: 18/04/2012

How different or similar are the activities and outcomes of the Resource Centres Networks (RCNs) that IRC is collaborating with on strengthening sector learning? What the resource centres from Ghana, Nepal, Uganda and Burkina Faso have in common is that

• All resource centres are carrying out activities to document lessons learned in the WASH sector, resulting in concise information products
• All resource centres facilitate knowledge sharing activities engaging a broad range of stakeholders, through learning platforms, organising of events.

The difference is in the detail of how they carry out the above activities:

In Nepal for example the focus of the activities is geared towards enabling learning at decentralised levels through regional WASH resource centres; In Uganda district level and sub county level learning platforms help people share, learn and take action.

In Ghana the frequency of the learning events is very set, the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) where the Ghana WASH sector comes together for sharing and learning is monthly, where in Nepal the thematic learning events are organised less frequently and more haphazard.

In Nepal the resource centre network has established itself in December 2011 as an independent and formally registered institution; whether the resource centre in Uganda is hosted by NETWAS Uganda.

One major outcome in which all countries are similar is that there is visible increased recognition by sector stakeholders for the importance for sector learning. The resource centres represented at the workshop today all have found their niche role to play in the WASH sectors in their countries.

But, we have to be cautious, as Solomon Kyeyune (Uganda RCN coordinator) said, ‘the discussion on Sector Learning, has just begun. We all have potential to get somewhere, but sector learning is a complex issue to explain and we only just started to get the topic on the table’.