Some of the best solutions to empowering communities and tackling poverty and inequality already exist worldwide – waiting to be unlocked! Our E-Motive program aims to do just that: an international exchange program that enables peer-to-peer learning between professionals who have the power to generate impact as role model and change maker.
The E-Motive methodology consists of 6 distinct steps, ranging from understanding a problem, to finding and exchanging on solutions, culminating in applying innovative approaches. Peers from similar cultures in different context share their knowledge and gain unexpected new perspectives.
Launched in 2006 as a ‘reversed development’ program, the E-Motive methodology has continuously evolved over the course of 10 years resulting into a systematic peer-to-peer learning exchange program. In 2017 The University of Utrecht has conducted two in-depth case studies on E-Motive exchanges in the EYW program, concluding that the exchanges have resulted in fruitful outcomes.
It was found that the participants in the exchanges have all gained new experiences, new knowledge and new insights that they are able to implement to a certain extent into their daily work practices. This includes so-called ‘aha-moments’, that indicate participants have gained new perspectives and as a result look at their own context differently now.
We select a social issue the local community is driven to work on and what is key in the bigger project. Together with them we dive in the context to make sure what the challenge is and what kind of change is needed. Who is involved? What are the bottlenecks? What is the common drive? We identify the first key opportunities and challenges for a learning exchange.
1 month (estimate)
We contract a thematic expert with the right background to find the right best practices. The local community/ country team will select the most relevant ones for their context. The expert will validate them according to their proven track record and design profiles. In consultation with the local community/ country team, we will select the top 3.
2 months (estimate)
We compose a learning group with diverse actors that have the power to generate impact as role model and changemakers related to the challenge. The involved country team determine which local stakeholders have the motivation, courage, resources, and influence to make a difference. They will outline why these selected actors can be a powerful group to take part in the learning exchange and make sure that the learning will be implemented afterwards.
1 month (estimate) (step 3 and 4 are at the same time)
We prepare a tailored program to build trust and a safe space for peer experts to honestly share best practices. The E-motive facilitator prepares a practical learning program (online and offline) with the 3 chosen best practices. The program will be diverse enough to enable all different actors to act as leaders, beneficiaries and local stakeholders and authorities. The facilitator will build trust and safe space to encourage the leaders of the best practices to share reality stories.
2 month (estimate) (step 3 and 4 are at the same time)
We facilitate the exchange and reflections and design experiments to test the new learnings. Afterwards there will be a period of testing, transforming, and implementing. The learning group visits via an exchange program (online and offline) with the 3 selected best practices. At the end of the exchange the group will make an action plan outlining how to translate the learning and transform into their own context (experiments). In the coming 3 months all participants are active and cooperating in the implementation of the learning.
1 months (estimate)
We oversee the experiments and guide local leadership and co-create a tailored toolkit. A local expert will guide and monitor the experiments and co-create with the learning group a toolkit. After peer-review we will finalize the toolkit and share it to scale.
3 months (estimate)