MfDR Mutual Learning Initiative (MLI)

The Joint Venture on Managing for Development Results wants to provide a platform for sharing emerging good practices of donors and partner countries and to promote the mutual learning in the area of MfDR. For this purpose the JV has included in its work programme the “MfDR Mutual Learning Initiative (MLI)”.

The MLI aims to bring together, on a regional basis, partner countries that have been trying to apply the concepts and principles of MfDR in their development planning and implementation processes, and in their relationships with donors supporting these efforts. Each of these countries have gained valuable experience in specific elements of MfDR, have learned lessons on how to overcome particular obstacles, have developed solutions that work.

A series of regional workshops has been organised to collect and help disseminate practical lessons learned on the specific difficulties that do occur when countries attempt to apply the core principles of MfDR.

These workshops will take place in Asia, East/Southern Africa (Uganda), West (francophone) Africa (Burkina Faso), and Latin America.

Expected outcomes of the workshops are:

• A valuable learning event for professionals from some 20 partner countries that have been developing their own MfDR practices and that would benefit from feed-back from colleagues with comparable experiences.
• Emerging best practice on how to manage for development results in a number of MfDR areas (see below under “themes”). Case material that has a wider relevance for other partner countries can be brought together through the Sourcebook on Managing for Development Results.
• In some regions so-called “Communities of Practice on MfDR” are emerging, supported by the multilateral development banks. These communities may build on the (regional) overview of MfDR issues that the MLI workshop will yield.
• The MLI workshops may also arrive at key messages and recommendations to the 3rd High Level Roundtable on Results that is foreseen for February 2007. The lessons from the four MLI workshops will be brought together in a synthesis note. Specific issues to be addressed are concerned with the required capacities to manage for results at the country level, the gaps that may exist and the actions required to close such a gap.