The Horizontal Learning Program

1. The Horizontal Learning Program Horizontal learning is a Union Parishad led peer-to-peer learning program that is facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and supported by numerous development partners and donors.

2. The Horizontal Learning Process Horizontal learning is a structured process that supports the innate human ability to acquire tacit skills through copying the very best of what others do… Identify best practices Replicate through holding hands Validate best practices HORIZONTAL LEARNING PROGRAM Discuss with citizens and integrate into the ADP Learn via Appreciative inquiry Prioritize practices to replicate

3. Relation to Capacity Building The bottom-up process compliments top-down capacity building What to teach? What works?

4. Self-Refining Adaptation Field based replication continually refines best practices E.g. Arsenic screening from Chowgacha is replicated by ChapaiNawabganj to ensure 100% water sources are screened, protected, registered, operated & maintained.

5. Strengthens Social Accountability Field based peer review prioritizes downward accountability E.g. The connecting of open budget to the raising of holding tax developed in Tarash has been replicated in 92 UPs with up to a ten-fold increase in own source revenues.

6. Facilitates Role Separation UPs ensure quality services for all rather than provide services to some E.g. UPs in Rajarhat are ensuring 100% latrinization, 100% arsenic screening, 100% birth registration, 100% school enrolment (children > 6 years), 100% tax payment.

7. Strengthens Inclusion Appreciative inquiry offers opportunities for everyone to contribute E.g. The Mohila Forum of elected female UP members in Tarash has improved the targeting of ration cards for lactating mothers, the oversight of 1/3 of the development works and the eradication of early marriages.

8. Prioritizes Indigenous Knowledge Local choice in the local context favours local knowledge and practices. E.g. The use of folk songs in Shymnagar and Ghambira / Alkap in ChapaiNawabganj and local technologies for achieving eco-friendly villages in Khanshama.

9. Limitations of Horizontal Learning External agents can not impose anything under HL “What has worked!” “What are the deficiencies in capacity?” SDC DANIDA LGSP-LIC WB Plan WA JICA CBOs NGO / CBOs PRDP-2: Link Models LGSP Sharique HYSAWA LIC SIPP CBOs NILG HORIZONTAL LEARNING PROCESS • Appreciation • Innovation • Partnerships • Confidence 66 UP 82 UP 128 UP ?? UP 6 upazila 8 upazila 13 upazila ?? upazila “What capacities do we already have?” E.g. Best practices are determined by UPs and projects are leveraged by the peer-to-peer collectives of UPs (not by the facilitating or supporting agencies).

10. Leverages Policy Changes Practices that are replicated often have a legitimacy to inform policy E.g. Chowgacha, ChapaiNawabganj and Rajarhat UPs leveraged the revision of the Implementation Plan for Arsenic Mitigation (IPAM) based on the their best practices.

11. Scaling-up of Horizontal Learning Scaling-up occurs naturally at the Ward, Upazilla & District levels In 2008/9: 128 UPs, 13 Upazillas, 16 replicated practices & 18 partners Future: 621 UPs, 69 Upazillas, 7 Districts, 40 best practices & 50 partners In 2007/8: 48 Union Parishads, 5 Upazillas, 21 best practices & 5 partners Vision: 4498 UPs, 509 Upazilas, 64 Districts, 100’s best practices & 100’s partners

12. Improves Partner Harmonization UP leadership tends to drive harmonization from the bottom-up E.g. Changed mindsets of government representatives, partners & donors has been accompanied by a growth in partners from 5 to 18 in less than 2 years.