The Agency Learning Network on the Care and Protection of Children in Crisis-Affected Countries (CPC) Learning Network is designed to promote the development of knowledge at the ground level and the synthesis of on-the-ground learning to inform global and national level practice and policy. The Learning Network’s unique structure, which includes both Program Learning Groups at the local level and Global Technical Groups to assist and synthesize learning across locations, is designed to address the dual local and global mandate of the Learning Network. Along with the Program Learning Groups and Global Technical Groups, the CPC Learning Network consists of a Secretariat at the Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, a Board of Advisors, and its member organizations.
Program Learning Groups (PLGs) are a core component of the CPC Learning Network. The goal of PLGs is to develop knowledge and the evidence base for good practice and policy in order to improve the care and protection of children and youth in crisis situations. The common activities that PLGs will undertake include:
- conduct interagency program evaluations,
- pilot new research and evaluation methods,
- share learning, both locally and globally, and educate stakeholders and policy makers,
- reflect upon promising and proven practices, as well as unintended impacts, and
- organize trainings, workshops and south-to-south knowledge exchanges.
The field-level learning promoted by PLGs catalyzes learning and, in turn, informs the formulation of global practice and policy.
Each PLG consists of member organizations, including national organizations, field offices of INGOs, and local universities and research institutions. One of the notable contributions that Learning Network members make to a PLG is staff time and other in-kind support. PLGs are currently being established in northern Uganda and Indonesia; and next year, PLGs are expected to be developed in at least two to three additional locations.
With support from the Secretariat and the Global Technical Groups, PLGs focus their learning agenda and develop a work plan. This agenda-setting process includes identifying and prioritizing learning needs, assigning lead agencies to facilitate projects and trainings, and pursuing additional sources of funding for prioritized activities. While the decentralized nature of PLGs provides flexibility for local agenda setting, for consistency across locations and to ensure the availability of technical assistance, the Secretariat works closely with PLGs to connect the local and global agendas of the Learning Network.
A southern partner and an INGO serve as co-conveners to help ensure the sustainability of each PLG, and to house a local PLG Coordinator. Local coordinators are responsible for organizing meetings, facilitating the development of the learning agenda, inviting organizations to join the Learning Network, and liaising with the co-conveners and Secretariat to organize technical assistance.
