Pathways Towards Effective Locally Led Development Co-operation

Annex A. Peer learning overview

In early 2023, the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) agreed to carry out a peer learning exercise to share and learn between peers approaches to promote locally led development (OECD, 2023[1]). The peer learning process was conducted over a 12-month period and was organised around five key building blocks. 

Table A.1. The peer learning building blocks

Framing locally led development	Desk-based research and consultation was undertaken to help clarify definitions and frame the peer review. This was summarised in a Framing Paper, tested during the peer learning exercise, and updated as part of this synthesis.
DAC member case studies	Three DAC member learning missions were undertaken in Canada, Ireland, and Switzerland.1 The aim was to inform learning on DAC member enablers and constraints for locally led development. These involved desk-based review of DAC member documents, key informant interviews, a roundtable discussion on the final day, and drafting of key impression summaries and full case reports for each country.
Country deep dives	Three country missions were undertaken in Colombia, Ethiopia, and Nepal. The aim was to understand wide ranging stakeholder perspectives on contextual influences on locally led development and perceptions of local actor agency in development framing, design, delivery, learning, and accountability. These involved desk-based review of DAC member documents, key informant interviews, group discussions, a donor round table, and drafting of key impression summaries and deep dive reports for each country.
Thematic deep dives	Six thematic deep dives were conducted to explore emerging questions and issues in depth, while offering space for technical exchange on: i) risk management; ii) the role of multilaterals; iii) valuing and strengthening local knowledge and capacities; iv) accountability to local stakeholders; v) locally led development co-operation in politically constrained environments; and vi) measuring locally led development co-operation. Two further thematic deep dives explored locally led innovation, one focusing on the emerging role of the public sector and the other one discussing the role of local innovation ecosystems in scaling innovation and options for funders.2 These involved key informant interviews, secondary research, thematic events (with approximately 100 participants each), and the drafting of summary and full perspective papers for each deep dive.
Learning consultation events	This synthesis report was presented in two multi-stakeholder events. The events were organised to accommodate different time zones, shared the peer learning findings to a range of stakeholders (including local actors, civil society organisations, and development co-operation providers) and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share feedback.

Note:

1. In addition, a short mission was undertaken to the United States.

2. For further information, see: https://www.climate-kic.org/opinion/how-to-advance-locally-led-development/.

References

[1] OECD (2023), Peer Learning on Locally Led Approaches to Development, Development Co-operation Directorate, OECD ONE Members and Partners Database, https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC(2023)5/en/pdf.