Preparation of a Strategy Workshop for World Bank Staff Supporting the Bank's Engagement in the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN)

Project context

The Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is a World Bank initiative launched in June 2000 as an incubator for a distance learning and knowledge sharing network serving decision makers and change agents in developing countries. Today it is a dynamic community of over 100 affiliates in 80 countries that act as "scouts" for knowledge sharing and communication among development partners around the world. The GDLN offers facilities and services for parties interested in using distance learning tools and technologies for joint learning and knowledge sharing. The sheer size of the network and the emergence of regional governance bodies, combined with continuous technological changes and a much broader range of services offered by GDLN Affiliates, require a careful reassessment of the partnership's overall goals, its governance structure, and its delivery results chain.

In order to prepare for addressing these issues, different World Bank teams that manage the Bank's engagement in GDLN held a 2-day strategy workshop in Elkville, Maryland, USA on 8-9 January 2007. GPPiC assisted in preparing and facilitating the workshop.

Project objectives

To optimally support the World Bank's GDLN teams in moving ahead on the above questions, GPPiC synthesized global partnership success factors that were used to identify most relevant action fields during the workshop. These success factors were based on a recent World Bank/OECD publication entitled the Sourcebook for Evaluating Global and Regional Partnership Programs to which GPPiC contributed. GPPiC designed the discussion process together with the project team, then facilitated the discussions during the workshop. In breakout groups, the top action fields were addressed.

In preparing the strategy workshop, GPPiC:

• Identified the key success factors for global and regional partnership programs that most directly apply to GDLN
• Compiled GDLN results chain drafts from a regional and global perspective
• Prepared a governance structure draft and recommendations for moving forward.