Facilitating Peer Learning with Adaptation Policy-Makers: Approaches and insights from the NAP Global Network’s Targeted Topics Forums

The guide outlines a framework for moving away from presentation-heavy meetings toward participatory knowledge co-creation in the context of National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes. It details fundamentals of facilitation—including purpose, context, power dynamics, and monitoring—and provides specific methodologies for technical, relational, and reflexive interaction. These include expert presentations, participatory timelines, knowledge-sharing marketplaces, knowledge clinics, collective problem solving, and structured reflection.

• Effective facilitation for adaptation policy-makers requires a shift from 'packed agendas, endless PowerPoint presentations, and little time for creativity' toward inclusive, participatory events where stakeholders collectively generate ideas.
• The NAP Global Network's Targeted Topics Forums (TTFs) utilize a three-pillar interaction model: technical inputs from experts, relational peer-to-peer exchange, and reflexive time for participants to consider application in their home contexts.
• Addressing power imbalances is critical for identifying the best ideas; the guide suggests balancing plenary sessions, which are often dominated by the most powerful, with small groups, pairs, and non-formal sharing methods like drawing or theatre.
• The guide recommends a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approach across four levels—reaction, learning, behaviour changes, and results—incorporating pre-event baselines, rapid assessments during the event, and follow-up interviews 2–3 months post-event.
• Specific relational and technical facilitation tools are highlighted, such as 'Knowledge Clinics' where a 'patient' shares a problem with 'doctors' (peers) for advice, and 'Knowledge-Sharing Marketplaces' where participants use stalls to showcase projects.
• To ensure technical presentations remain effective, the guide advises limiting them to 10–15 minutes, avoiding them immediately after lunch, and following them with group activities to test and apply the ideas.

APA

Fisher, C., & Harvey, B. (2019). Facilitating Peer Learning with Adaptation Policy-Makers: Approaches and insights from the NAP Global Network’s Targeted Topics Forums. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/napgn-en-2019-facilitating-peer-learning-with-adaptation-policy-makers.pdf

Chicago

Fisher, Catherine, and Blane Harvey. Facilitating Peer Learning with Adaptation Policy-Makers: Approaches and insights from the NAP Global Network’s Targeted Topics Forums. NAP Global Network, 2019. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/napgn-en-2019-facilitating-peer-learning-with-adaptation-policy-makers.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fisher |first1=Catherine |last2=Harvey |first2=Blane |title=Facilitating Peer Learning with Adaptation Policy-Makers: Approaches and insights from the NAP Global Network’s Targeted Topics Forums |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=2019 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/napgn-en-2019-facilitating-peer-learning-with-adaptation-policy-makers.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fisher2019facilitating, author = {Fisher, Catherine and Harvey, Blane}, title = {{Facilitating Peer Learning with Adaptation Policy-Makers: Approaches and insights from the NAP Global Network’s Targeted Topics Forums}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2019}, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/napgn-en-2019-facilitating-peer-learning-with-adaptation-policy-makers.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }