How to strengthen peer-to-peer learning on participatory democracy in your municipal partnership or network

The objective of peer-learning in ICLD networks (including team visits) and partnerships is the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience from one local government to another, and vice versa, mainly through international visits. These visits are at the heart of your partnership, and network, and should be well planned and contain elements that encourage peer learning, friendly benchmarking to inspire change, or other forms of peer support such as mentoring, site/study visits, peer visits, peer assessments and work shadowing.

ICLD has put together a toolbox for peer-to-peer learning in your partnerships. If your partnership has decided to focus on strengthening participatory democracy through your projects, we suggest you conduct the following peer learning methods during your international visits:

• Structured peer assessments (Method 1 in the toolbox)
• Peer visits (Method 3 in the toolbox)

Focus these methods on focusing on your local government’s work with participatory democracy.

Taking citizen’s views into account

Enrich your learning with citizen’s views and experiences. The result of surveys such as Citizen Report Cards, or other forms of qualitative community data, should continually inform the planning and revising of your project but also the knowledge transfer within your partnership.

Taking expert views into account

You can always get the input of researchers or experts in the specific field your project focuses on, or in the method you have selected. Or perhaps on how the technical issue relates to democratic governance? Request a Local Democracy Lab from ICLD and we will locate relevant experts and facilitate a conversation.