PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES

CONNECT LEARN COLLABORATE

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES OVERVIEW

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

The peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange methodology has the potential to upend

traditional methods of learning, networking, leadership development and

partnership building. In 2013, the VVLead Fellowship* launched its first P2P

exchange in New Delhi, India with 11 women leaders from four countries.

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

and Collaborate with one another. While the findings presented herein come through

working exclusively with women leaders, we recognize the opportunity to transfer these

practices to a broader audience. Through these exchanges, paired with an intensive

research project, we have identified best practices and learnings that we are pleased to

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

an opportunity for active learning, practitioner-

driven discussion, cross-pollination of ideas

and tools, and unconventional collaborations

throughout the entirety of the exchange

unusual and sustainable partnerships,

reaching within and across sectors and focus

areas, extending from the local to the global

non-hierarchical learning spaces and

processes where practitioners can share

their expertise, skills, perspectives and

experiences, while learning from others

networks that are active, supportive and

structurally sustainable

PROVIDES CREATES

FACILITATESENCOURAGES

*In 2013, Vital Voices, with funding from the UK government’s Departmentof International Developmentestablished the VVLead FellowshipProgram to support a global network of emerging and established women leaders who are addressing challenges and providing unusual and sustainable solutions to ensure full participationin society and the economy. VVLead’s activities are centered around thethree pillars, Connect, Learn andCollaborate.

PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING

The transfer of knowledge,

skills or technologies among

individuals or groups who

have expertise from field or

lived experience

PEER-TO-PEER EXCHANGES

Structured, non-hierarchical

interactions that facilitate

peer-to-peer learning

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

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-on-one interactions.

• Recognize individuals amongthe group for their expertiseor input.

• Allow each participant to fullyengage in every activity.

• Develop trust amongparticipants.

Small group size yields higher quality discussions, deeper relationships among participants, and longer-lasting and substantive connections after the exchange.

Integrate activities in the P2Pcurriculum that enable personal reflection, trust-building and active engagement.

• Incorporate activities whereparticipants articulate theirsources of strength and tapinto their self-confidence.When participants identifyand believe in their owncapabilities, they are betterequipped to collaborate withothers.

• Build a respectful spacefor open communication.Sharing personal experiencesleads to deeper individualconnections.

BE PERSONAL

Value all participants equally, regardless of age, experience or rank.

• Facilitate activities thathighlight the value thatcomes from differentbackgrounds, perspectivesand skills.

• Generate activities thatrotate who is considered an“expert” on any particularsubject.

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.

REINFORCE DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF THE EXCHANGE

TRUST IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXCHANGE.

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES CONNECT

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

“[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

“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.”

– Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Ghana Fellow, 2013

THE EXPERIENCE:

CONNECTING

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.

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.

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES CONNECT

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

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 assessmentbefore the P2P to tailor curriculumand activities. Don’t presume toknow what participants want fromthe experience – ask them directlyinstead.

• Think of the user’s experience whendesigning activities. Consider, “willthis be accessible?”

• Be conscientious of participants’backgrounds, including theirculture, language skills andeducation levels.

Recognizing the above, remember that no two P2P exchanges will be the same.

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 reciprocalconsultants and coaches to one another.

• Emphasize participant interaction as thefocal point for new information in anysession. For example, use a facilitator in astrategic planning workshop to enumeratetechnical steps of strategic planning, butconvene participants together to create,consult on, or edit each other’s plans.

• Assign participants with responsibilities foreach session to increase buy-in.

• Foster the democratic nature of exchangeby having participants serve as trainers.

• Allocate time for all participants to sharetheir specific expertise.

DESIGN PARTICIPANT-LED AND PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN SESSIONS

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.

INTEGRATE SITE VISITS

PARTICIPANTS ARE ACTIVE, NOT AN AUDIENCE.

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES LEARN

“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.”

– 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

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

THE EXPERIENCE:

LEARNING

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.

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.

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

100%

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES LEARN

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

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 eachother.

• Vote on the mostinteresting, relevantand innovativepitches.

• Form collaborationteams to developaction steps totranslate the pitchfrom idea to reality.

Develop tools for participants to establish their commitments to work with one another following the program.

• Offer a session duringwhich individualsidentify tangible meansof support for otherparticipants, includingtimeline, specificcommitment andresources involved.

• Generate accountabilityand facilitate follow-through by producing awritten document – or“promise tracker” – forall parties involvedwith a collaboration tocomplete.

FOSTER COLLABORATIVE COMMITMENTS

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:

• Serve as conduits for externalaccountability. Coordinate pre-plannedcheck-ins to determine progress post-exchange (monthly, after three or sixmonths, etc.).

• Establish a timeline and template for self-reporting on progress.

• Use online platforms, listservs, social media andother ICT means to support future participantinteraction, including the creation of Facebookor WhatsApp groups.

• Develop a follow-up P2P: discuss progressmade; identify best practices, lessons learnedand new challenges; and create a forum tocontinue collaborative initiatives.

CREATE STRUCTURED FOLLOW-UP

FOLLOW-UP STARTS DURING THE EXCHANGE.

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES COLLABORATE

“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

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

THE EXPERIENCE:

COLLABORATING

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.

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.

CONNECT COLLABORATELEARN

88.46%

PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EXCHANGE: BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING EXCHANGES COLLABORATE

“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

Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders

who improve the world. Founded by former U.S. Secretary

of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and guided by the belief

that women are essential to progress in their communities,

we partner with leaders from more than 140 countries who

advance economic opportunity, increase political and

public leadership, and end violence against women. Our

programs in strategic planning, business, advocacy and

communications build critical skills needed for creating

transformational change at scale. Through our global

platform, women leaders expand their connections and

visibility, accelerating shared progress for all.

The VVLead Fellowship supports a global network of

emerging and established women leaders who provide

unusual and sustainable solutions to pressing problems

that have impeded women and girls’ progress to participate

fully in society and the economy. Recognizing that in order

to advance the causes of women, women themselves

must connect with, empower, equip and inspire one

another at all levels of society, VVLead is a critical step in

this response. The fellowship offers participants unique

opportunities — both through an online platform and in-

person at peer-to-peer and South-to-South exchanges —

to share information, obtain resources and tools, mentor

and be mentored and receive training through offerings

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