Regional Communities of Practice Driving Peer to Peer Learning, Knowledge Exchange and Technical Collaboration on LEDS and NDC Implementation

By Ron Benioff

National and sub-national governments around the world are tackling an array of challenges as they implement actions to achieve their NDC goals.  These governments and the in-country and international institutions that support them can benefit immensely by learning from and being inspired by the experiences of their peers.  To enable continuous peer based knowledge exchange, learning, and technical collaboration the Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership(LEDS GP) has established a portfolio of regional topic specific communities of practice. These communities of practices are managed by LEDS GP regional platforms in partnership with LEDS GP topical working groups.

The LEDS GP Communities of Practice are interactive networks of practitioners working together on real-time policy, technical, and market solutions related to low emission development. These communities are a dynamic environment for ongoing collaboration to allow for deeper and sustained engagement and access to tools and expert assistance. They provide an environment for sharing and learning and they are an opportunity to foster champions that will serve as role models to other countries in their regions and worldwide.

As a demand-driven network, the focal areas and activities of these LEDS GP communities are defined by developing country members. The adaptive nature of these communities allows   participants to provide input on topics for deeper engagement, which are developed over time. The table below describes the focal areas for these communities of practice. Addition

All communities of practice are conducting the following activities as also shown in the diagram below:

• Online peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and training on specific topics of interest – this is an opportunity to engage with other practitioners to exchange lessons and approaches and to receive training and coaching on a regular basis

• In-person training and peer learning workshops – held at regional and global levels often in partnership with other programs  

• Compilation of resources, good practices, case studies and tools to advance implementation

• Delivery of no-cost remote expert advisory support – for developing country national and subnational governments

• Technical collaboration across countries on innovative and pioneering measures and solutions

Featured Examples

Africa Minigrids Community of Practice

Launched in 2017, the African Mini-Grids Community of Practice in facilitating peer learning and knowledge sharing on mini-grids in Africa. The goal of the AMG-COP is to advance the application of mini-grids as a key energy access and economic development solution that assists countries in achieving their economic, social development, and energy sector goals, as well as their NDCs. We currently work with representatives from Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia to support them in:

• designing effective policies and enabling regulatory environments to foster strong collaboration and partnership between public and private sectors;

• evaluating and promoting proven business and ownership models and best practices to drive toward commercial viability;

• accessing finance, including engagement with the private sector, and developing bankable project proposals and regulatory frameworks that de-risk and attract private sector investment.

Latin American and Caribbean Bioelectricity Community of Practice

Created in 2016, this community of practice hosted by the LEDS LAC and the LEDS GP Energy Working Group has been engaging practitioners from governments, private sector and the international assistance programs to work together to advance development of bioenergy in Latin America and the Caribbean. A report with the outcomes from the trainings, peer learning, and technical assistance delivered in past year can be found here. In 2018, the BioE-CoP will focus on the design of effective policy and regulatory frameworks to attract investment in biogas projects. Four online sessions and one in-person training will be delivered in addition to sharing of tools and resources and direct technical support to country government.

For example, the LEDS LAC Bioelectricity Community of Practice provided Costa Rican representatives with tools for designing a residual biomass energy Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and roadmap, detailing the energy potential and economic viability of available biomass feedstocks. This support led the Costa Rican Electricity Institute and the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to propose a Residual Biomass Energy NAMA. A Residual Biomass NAMA will set a framework for the government to support technology, financing, and capacity building for its bioelectricity sector.

How You Can Participate

Whether you belong to a government agency, donor organization, academic or technical institute, private sector, or NGO, you can join these communities and participate in the following ways. The LEDS GP welcomes broad participation and engagement.

• Learn from peers who are implementing low emission development solutions and receive targeted training and advisory support from LEDS GP working groups.  

• Make use of tools and knowledge products shared by the CoP to advance your LEDS work.

• Share yours and your country’s experiences, challenges and opportunities. Share resources, good approaches, news and tools with other CoP members. Serve as a role model to other practitioners. Spread the learning from the CoP back to your community and organization. Bring in your colleagues to participate.  

• Identify needs of your country and request/receive no-cost remote advisory support from LEDS GP (limited to developing country governments).

For further information and to join these communities, please contact secretariat@ledsgp.org.    

Ron Benioff is the Director of the LEDS Global Partnership.