Definition:

Horizontal learning is an outcome oriented process that supports the innate human ability to acquire tacit skills through copying the very best of what others do (then pictures & examples).

The Results:

Horizontal learning encourages innovation, strengthens confidence and enables momentum for change to be built from the bottom upwards (then pictures & examples).

The Principles:

Horizontal learning follows “A-CAR” principles I.e., Appreciate-Connect-Adapt-Replicate and is structured to enable each participant to:
Appreciate: To look for the best in my peers and to place ‘what I do best’ before my peers.
Connect: To reach out across conventional boundaries to identify with very essence of my peers.
Adapt: To review, assess and adapt good practices of peers against their own indicators of success.
Replicate: To replicate some good practices of peers – in his/her own way, in his/her own context.

The Environment:

Horizontal learning works best in domains where knowledge is tacit rather than codified and in systems where excellence is stifled by bureaucratic procedures.

Self-Refining:

Under horizontal learning, good practices continue to be identified, refined and adapted. Therefor the quality of the good practices continues to improve. Under program/project interventions, best practices get picked up once it is replicated many times irrespective of the needs and context. Often, the quality of the best practices tends to regress.

We work for

• Local Government Institutions
• Schools
• Health Clinics
• Local Entrepreneurs
• Media Group
• Private Sector

And, we support and facilitate networking, enhancing capacities, scaling-up of good practices, practice to policy advocacy, instituting and institutionalizing HLP.

Evidence-based

HLP is an evidence based approach consisting of sic steps. These are:

• Identifying good practices
• Learn via appreciate exposure
• Discuss with client and integrate learning for replications
• Prepare replication plans with prioritization
• Replicate with hand holding support
• Peer review to monitor and recognize replications

The Limitations:

The key limitation of Horizontal Learning is that external agents cannot impose anything (i.e. good and best practices are determined by peers and policies leveraged by the peer-to-peer collective).