Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives

BACKGROUND: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE processes are not well documented in th...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Triulzi, I, Kabra, R, Allagh, K P, Kiarie, J
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Oxford University Press 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10597292/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.1108
_version_ 1785125309540990976
author Triulzi, I
Kabra, R
Allagh, K P
Kiarie, J
author_facet Triulzi, I
Kabra, R
Allagh, K P
Kiarie, J
author_sort Triulzi, I
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE processes are not well documented in the scientific literature. This study explored experts’ perspectives on SSLEs’ strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms leading to outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews on the experience of participants and organizers of SSLEs. Data were collected between 1st September 2021 to 26th November 2021. All data were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed. In the analysis, we adopted an inductive approach derived from thematic analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen experts who have participated in or facilitated one or more SSLEs were interviewed. Experts’ accounts demonstrated an appreciation of participants’ empowerment, positive peer-to-peer “mind change” and convincing and powerful hands-on learning of this approach as strengths in the successful implementation of the SSLE. Being resource-heavy, participant reluctance and the absence of a validated methodology emerged as the main weaknesses of the South-South learning approach, which could impair the effectiveness of this scheme. CONCLUSIONS: The SSLE is a promising approach to exchange knowledge and experience to work toward a desired change. However, to enhance its effectiveness and credibility, it would benefit from adopting a validated and systematic methodology that supports all stages of the exchange process, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E). KEY MESSAGES: • South-South learning exchange is a promising approach to exchanging knowledge and experience among countries from the Global South. • A robust and systematic methodology is likely to increase evidence on SSLE and demonstrate its success.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-10597292
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2023
publisher Oxford University Press
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-105972922023-10-25 Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives Triulzi, I Kabra, R Allagh, K P Kiarie, J Eur J Public Health Poster Displays BACKGROUND: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE processes are not well documented in the scientific literature. This study explored experts’ perspectives on SSLEs’ strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms leading to outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews on the experience of participants and organizers of SSLEs. Data were collected between 1st September 2021 to 26th November 2021. All data were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed. In the analysis, we adopted an inductive approach derived from thematic analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen experts who have participated in or facilitated one or more SSLEs were interviewed. Experts’ accounts demonstrated an appreciation of participants’ empowerment, positive peer-to-peer “mind change” and convincing and powerful hands-on learning of this approach as strengths in the successful implementation of the SSLE. Being resource-heavy, participant reluctance and the absence of a validated methodology emerged as the main weaknesses of the South-South learning approach, which could impair the effectiveness of this scheme. CONCLUSIONS: The SSLE is a promising approach to exchange knowledge and experience to work toward a desired change. However, to enhance its effectiveness and credibility, it would benefit from adopting a validated and systematic methodology that supports all stages of the exchange process, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E). KEY MESSAGES: • South-South learning exchange is a promising approach to exchanging knowledge and experience among countries from the Global South. • A robust and systematic methodology is likely to increase evidence on SSLE and demonstrate its success. Oxford University Press 2023-10-24 /pmc/articles/PMC10597292/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.1108 Text en © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
spellingShingle Poster Displays
Triulzi, I
Kabra, R
Allagh, K P
Kiarie, J
Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title_full Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title_fullStr Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title_short Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: the experts’ perspectives
title_sort strengths and weaknesses of the south-south learning exchange: the experts’ perspectives
topic Poster Displays
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10597292/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.1108
work_keys_str_mv AT triulzii strengthsandweaknessesofthesouthsouthlearningexchangetheexpertsperspectives
AT kabrar strengthsandweaknessesofthesouthsouthlearningexchangetheexpertsperspectives
AT allaghkp strengthsandweaknessesofthesouthsouthlearningexchangetheexpertsperspectives
AT kiariej strengthsandweaknessesofthesouthsouthlearningexchangetheexpertsperspectives