What is Learning Circles?
Highly interactive and small group-based, the Learning Circles model guides program managers and technical advisors working in FP/RH through supportive discussions into what works and what doesn’t in program implementation. Learning Circles participants can generate insights with a small, trusted group of peers in just 4 sessions to improve their FP/RH programs.
What makes Learning Circles unique among other webinars and workshops is how we define experts and expertise. Many models take the approach of having a panel of experts present on technical topics, with time afterward for Q&A. In Learning Circles, we’re interested in highlighting practical knowledge and experience gained from implementing programs on a daily basis. In Learning Circles, YOU - the participants - are the experts.
· IMPROVE YOUR PROGRAMS ·
· EXPLORE TECHNICAL TOPICS ·
· MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS ·
Are you seeking a deeper understanding of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) topics but with more interaction than you get by attending webinars? Do you want to engage in honest conversations with your peers about the FP/RH program issues and technical topics that matter most to you?
Learning Circles is a new kind of online series, developed to meet your needs during this “new normal” of remote working, webinar overload, and lack of in-person connections.
The idea for Learning Circles came from a direct need for informal cross-organization learning and collaboration, expressed by FP/RH professionals during regional co-creation workshops held in mid-2020.
When asked how to get evidence and best practices into use in the FP/RH field, workshop participants noted that information shared at the global level isn’t always relevant to their programs. There’s a need for knowledge and information that matches the culture and context within the countries they work.
Click the tabs to the right for more insights from co-creation workshop participants.
“Documentation of what works is not adequate. As a result, it’s not obvious what works in FP programs…the diverse nature of cultures, localizing the evidence and best practices within a certain context is a challenge to actually move FP programs forward.”—co-creation workshop participant
On documentation of what works
On pushing to the next level
On limited use of evidence
On documentation of what works
“We need to know what’s not working. We have successes but it's not pushing us to the next level.” —co-creation workshop participant
On pushing to the next level
On limited use of evidence
On documentation of what works
On pushing to the next level
“There are lots of FP programs implemented in the region but there’s limited use of evidence as the basis for the FP programming because it’s a challenge to get concrete FP/RH results.”
—co-creation workshop participant
On limited use of evidence
Meeting Your Knowledge Needs
How Learning Circles Works
Cohorts of 30 members of the FP/RH workforce meet virtually for four live sessions, and continue reflecting and exchanging with one another in fun and engaging ways between live sessions.
Cohort members come from the same region, so that shared experiences are relevant to everyone’s context.
Through a mix of facilitated plenary and small-group activities, participants explore the details of their unique problems in FP/RH programming, brainstorm ways to address those issues, and leave the workshop with the tools they need to make positive immediate changes to their FP/RH projects.
Meet people from your region
Meet people from your region who are facing similar programmatic challenges as you
Get immediate solutions
Get immediate solutions to solve urgent issues in your FP/RH programs
Learn how to apply new approaches
Learn how to apply new approaches to your program from people who’ve implemented them in their own settings
Engage in learning across organizations
Engage in active learning across organizations and, using your collective knowledge, work together as a team to develop lessons on what works and what doesn't in FP/RH programs that will benefit the wider FP/RH community
Be positioned as an expert
Be positioned as an expert among a community of peers
Earn a certificate
Earn a certificate of completion to demonstrate your newly acquired knowledge
Discover creative ways
Discover creative ways to exchange knowledge and gain the skills to replicate those techniques
Benefits of Participating
Learning Circles is designed for mid-career FP/RH program managers and technical advisors. Cohort members are selected by country, role, and program interests and challenges and cohorts are limited to 30 members. To be considered, applicants must currently be engaged in program implementation on the cohort topic (see below).
Who is Eligible?
Find Your Cohort!
Anglophone Africa
May - July 2021
Francophone Africa
and the Caribbean
October - December 2021
Asia
November - December 2021
Topic: Family Planning programming in the context of COVID-19
Topic: Meaningful youth engagement in family planning programs
Topic: Ensuring continuity of essential family planning and reproductive health services during emergencies
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2021 COHORTS
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East Africa
June - July 2022
West Africa
July 2022
Topic: Community dialogues
Participation in this cohort is reserved for members of the Ouagadougou Partnership.
Asia
August 2022
Topic: Engaging men and boys in family planning
2022 COHORTS
2021 Cohorts
East Africa
June - July 2022
Topic: FFP/RH access and utilization
Participation in this cohort is reserved for members of TheCollaborative. Not a member? Click here to join!
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FROM THIS COHORT
West Africa
July 2022
Topic: Community dialogues
Participation in this cohort is reserved for members of the Ouagadougou Partnership.
Asia
August 2022
Topic: Engaging men and boys in family planning
Topic: FP/RH access and utilization
Participation in this cohort is reserved for members of TheCollaborative. Not a member of this community? Click here to join!
Session dates and times (Singapore time):
10 August 2022: 2:00-4:00PM
17 August 2022: 2:00-3:30PM
24 August 2022: 2:00-3:30PM
31 August 2022: 2:00-3:30PM
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FROM THIS COHORT
2022 Cohorts
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East Africa
July - August 2023
Topic: Gender Transformative Practices in FP/RH
Mid-career program managers and technical advisors based in East Africa, who are also members of TheCollaborative, are encouraged to apply.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Francophone Africa
July 2023
Topic: Domestic Resource Mobilization for family planning
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GET KEY LEARNINGS FROM THIS COHORT
Asia
July 2023
Topic: Adolescent youth sexual and reproductive health
Early and mid-career program managers, technical advisers and individuals from youth-led organizations in Asia are encouraged to apply.
2023 COHORTS
East Africa
July - August
Topic: Gender Transformative Practices in FP/RH
Mid-career program managers and technical advisors based in East Africa, who are also members of TheCollaborative are encouraged to apply.
APPLICATIONS ARE
NOW CLOSED
Francophone Africa
July 2023
Topic: Domestic Resource Mobilization for family planning
GET KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS COHORT
GET KEY LEARNINGS FROM THIS COHORT
Asia
July 2023
Topic: Adolescent youth sexual and reproductive health
2023 Cohorts