This document discusses the history and definition of communities of practice (CoPs) as groups that share a common interest in a topic and deepen their knowledge through ongoing interaction. It provides examples of CoP activities like face-to-face meetings, online discussions, blogs, multicountry research, and publications. Lessons learned are that CoPs should build relationships by combining in-person and online activities, encourage participation from relevant institutions, and secure sustainable funding to empower core members and facilitate activities over the long term.

1. Isidore Sieleunou
History of the CoPs:
successes and perspectives

2. 2
“a group of people who share a
concern, set of problems, or a
passion about a topic, and who
deepen their knowledge and
expertise in this area by
interacting on an ongoing basis”
Wenger et al (2002)
Definition:
Communities of Practice (CoPs)

3. occasional
transactional
peripheral
active
coordinator
core group
lurkers
leaders
sponsors
experts
beginners
alumni
outsiders
3
The CoP as a learning strategy
Interaction
between peers
Interactions
expert-
apprentice

4. Understanding new power

5. 5
CoPKM in global health

6. Activities (1): F2F meeting

7. Activities (2): online discussion

8. Activities (3): blog
 Financing Health in Africa: Le Blog
 http://www.healthfinancingafrica.org
/
 Give a space for experts who are
usually not heard

9. Activities (4): multicountry research

10. 10
Our activities (5): publication

11. Activities (6): new solutions

12. Our activities (7): evaluation
 Internal
 External

13. How our learning agendas emerge?

14. 14
A collective journey

15. Lessons learned (1)
 Target individuals and
build relationships:
 Combine face-to-face and
virtual activities
 Invest in the “us,” social
and informal connections
 Build connections through
joint knowledge-building
projects
 Recognize and value
different aspects of
motivation
 Include all stakeholders
Morocco site visit to see the RAMED in
action
Parliamentary round table

16. Lessons learned (2)
 … but involve institutions (Ministries, technical and
financial partners, CSOs)!
 Mobilize resources for facilitation and activities
 Encourage their own staff to participate
 Recognize the value of knowledge produced/shared in
CoP
 Appreciate the expertise and knowledge housed by CoP
members
 Value evidence (when it is available), acknowledge risks
with ideology
 Be aware of legal challenges

17. Lessons learned (3)
Secure
sustainable funds
for facilitation
Empower (invest on)
active members to build a
dynamic core group
Diversify sources of
funding
Promote synergies with
other platforms (CoPs,
networks, etc ...)

18. Thank you