DESIGNING PROJECTS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

3.7 LEARNING (SHORT FOR MONITORING & ASSESSMENT, LEARNING AND
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT)
RAPTA PROCESS
1. Scoping
2. Engagement &
Governance
LEARNING (MONITORING&
ASSESSMENT,
LEARNING, KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENT)
4. System
Description
3. Theory of
Change
6. Options &
Pathways
5. System
Assessment
Step 1 Understand why learning is
important in RAPTA
Step 2 Identify the kind of learning
environment needed for your
project and context
Step 3 Specify project needs that
Learning will meet, informed by
other components
Step 4 Select the appropriate learning
tools and methods to meet the
specified needs
Step 5 Ensure adequate resourcing
for Learning activities across all
phases of the project cycle
7. Learning
Figure 17 Steps of the Learning (Monitoring & Assessment, Learning, Knowledge Management) component
3.7.1 Purpose of Learning
This section explains the Learning (short for Monitoring
& Assessment, Learning and Knowledge
Management) component, including the multiple
objectives of Learning and possible tools for achieving
them. RAPTA is deliberately designed to foster monitoring,
assessment, and learning for all stakeholders
involved and is intended to be a flexible, iterative process.
Regular evaluation and reflection throughout the
project is critical to enhancing understanding about
the complexities of the system in which the project is
embedded and for supporting the project managers
and key stakeholders in making the most appropriate
changes and adjustments to achieve meaningful
impacts. Because many of the participants involved in
undertaking RAPTA are themselves essential elements
of the system under consideration 18 , their engagement
in Learning is essential to encourage self-assessment
and awareness of their own roles and influence over
future actions.
However, an effective Learning process depends
on establishing a governance framework (e.g. project
management, stakeholder engagement) which
encourages methods and processes for appropriate
monitoring and assessment, has the mechanisms to
collate and manage information, and is responsive to
the messages that this provides. This “feedback loop”
enables project managers, stakeholders and beneficiaries
to track and adjust project progress, monitor
and assess project outcomes, reflect on successes and
failures and potentially adapt and refine future iterations
of RAPTA.
18 The participants include government policymakers, NGOs, vulnerable
community members, and others. See Engagement and Governance
component.
RAPTA guidelines for project design 77