About Communities

Through SEEP’s online platform, SEEPCommunity.com, practitioners from around the world COLLABORATE on active learning initiatives to produce and disseminate learning.  Create a User Account to get involved in our global learning network! 

If you are a SEEP member and would like to propose a new Initiative, please use this Concept Note.

To explore SEEP’s historical learning initiatives, visit the SEEPNetwork’s website.  

 Methodology

SEEP initiatives are diverse in their motivations, methodologies and outcomes. Some are ongoing and seek to establish industry-wide standards over the course of several years, while others form quickly to meet an immediate learning need and then disband when that need has been met. This flexibility allows SEEP to address a wide spectrum of challenges and opportunities. 

Practitioner Learning Program (PLP):

The Practitioner Learning Program (PLP) is a unique learning methodology rooted in the principles of action research. This methodology was developed by the SEEP Network to engage practitioners in a collaborative learning process to document and share findings and help identify effective and replicable practices and innovations. The PLP is a process oriented program rather than an output oriented program as it emphasizes on the lateral learning opposed to  producing documents or  deliverables. The outputs produced are practically written, as peer-to-peer “how-to” guides, technical notes, case studies, and even a periodic newsletter to maximize their effectiveness with practitioners and the industry at large. The PLP’s comparative advantage – practicing locally, sharing globally – is based on working with on-the-ground organizations to test strategies in institutional settings common to many practitioners.  Furthermore, this model of “learning by doing” has the added benefit of more institutionalized knowledge, because when practitioners learn from their own experiences, mistakes and discoveries, the learning itself is often more sustainable.

Working Groups:

These groups of self-selected SEEP members, in many ways, represent the heart and soul of SEEP.  Working groups are the creative cauldrons in which SEEP generates its learning and crafts its products. Working groups serve as the vehicle for SEEP members to engage in participatory research, applied learning, documentation, and training on a particular topic. Each working group designs its own learning agenda and work plan based on member interest and implements it with the support of SEEP staff.  The learning process may take several forms. It starts with the formulation of issues to be studied, and then can include the development of frameworks or other analytic tools, the preparation of case studies, surveys of current practices, small group sessions, and one or more workshops. The Working Groups continue their efforts with the preparation of the written products that synthesize learning. They also are the place where program directions are identified, and where critical SEEP Network members’ issues are discussed. The size and dynamism of each working group varies greatly according to member interest and experience. 

Peer exchange

SEEP understands that learning is best achieved whenpractitioners meet face-to-face. However, financial, language and time restrictions do not always allowfor in person learning.  Peer-to-peerexchange is a distance-learning methodology that combines virtual andface-to-face interaction to optimize the use of time and resources.  By connecting with peers with similarchallenges, structure or learning interests SEEP facilitates virtual andin-person events to share knowledge and learn from the lessons of others.

Direct Technical Assistance

SEEP staff or consultants may also engage in direct technical assistance of our members and/or partners including such as instruction, skills training, and consulting services and may also involve the transfer of technical data. This can provide a deeper level of learning and quickly achieve tangible results.