Learning Loops Training Masterclass Workshop

Improved learning is critical for better long-term development outcomes and more sustainable results. At the AfDB, efforts have been made to promote learning particularly through the documentation of lessons learned in Country Portfolio Performance Reviews, Project Completion Reports for sovereign operations and Extended Supervision Reports in the case of non-sovereign operations. In addition, learning events and materials have been developed in some areas including through the Quality Matters initiative and capitalization workshops organized by IDEV. However, there is scope to go further if the Bank is to become a learning organization, especially with respect to the application of lessons learned to new operations.

In addition, learning considerations are further overlooked because of a bias towards performance ratings and accountability requirements. Previous evaluations by IDEV and other self-evaluations such as those conducted by MOPAN have underscored this concern for both sovereign and non-sovereign operations. The Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033) amongst others, also emphasizes the need of building a culture of learning by incorporating learning into its strategic planning and operations.

In this context, SNDR.3 recruited Dr. Moses Adoko, Chief Knowledge Officer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a renowned global expert in the field of learning loops to carry out a (i) diagnostic assessment of the Bank’s learning architecture, processes and tools, and (ii) propose a framework and action plan anchored on international best practice to strengthen and improve the use of lessons learned extracted from self-evaluations and independent evaluations, tightening the feedback loops between Bank knowledge products and operations and ultimately improve the Bank’s effectiveness and efficiency. As his diagnostic work concludes, he will visit Abidjan to share both his findings and his knowledge of global good practices on learning systems and learning organizations.

Speaker

President, MakAstro Tech & Services LLC, USA
Professorial Lecturer, Columbia University and the George Washington University
Chief Knowledge Officer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD USA

Dr. Moses Adoko is the Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Prior to his appointment as the NASA Goddard CKO, he served as Deputy Chief Knowledge Officer for the entire NASA agency. In that capacity, he led efforts aimed at ensuring that the NASA’s technical workforce and practitioners have access to critical, technical and relevant knowledge and lessons to increase the likelihood of mission success. He led programmatic efforts aimed at ensuring that implementation of NASA’s vision and strategy is backed by wellresearched policies and proven practices that enable mission success across the agency.

Agenda