The document summarizes outcomes from forums in Washington, DC (2009) and Berlin (2008) focused on enhancing development learning institutions (DLIs) for capacity building. Key recommendations include shifting the role of training institutions to strategic facilitators, expanding learning methods, measuring outcomes at the institutional level, and promoting knowledge exchange. The Berlin Statement outlines commitments to improve learning integration, provide guidelines for program management, and strengthen collaboration among development training institutions.

1. How Did We Get Here? Summary of Outcomes from the 2009 Forum in Washington, D.C. and 2008 Forum in Berlin

2. 2009 Forum on Learning Results 70+ delegates from development learning institutions (DLIs), development agencies, and capacity development networks met in Washington in June 2009 for Improving the Results of Learning for Capacity Building The forum brought the DLI community and capacity development agenda to a new point for action and collaboration, while emphasizing the need to expand the engagement of Southern DLIs. What emerged from the forum is a consensus that 4 directional shifts are needed for DLIs to achieve and demonstrate more sustainable results.

3. Directional Shift 1 Shift: Training institution  Strategic facilitator of capacity development Recommendation: Transform the Role of Development Learning and Institutions As development shifts from a focus on resource investment to knowledge and learning, we must enforce the strategic roles of learning and the development institutions that deliver learning programs.

4. Directional Shift 2 Shift: Training and structured learning for individuals  Diverse learning for institutions and local change agents Recommendation: Redefine the Methods and Delivery for Learning To have lasting impact, learning must expand beyond traditional offerings that target individual change to include dynamic offerings that target the diverse learning needs of groups and organizations, such as network creation and new wholesaling approaches.

5. Directional Shift 3 Shift: Measuring learning outputs for individuals and activities  Measuring learning outcomes and how they contribute to institutional-level impact Recommendation: Measure Learning Results as Part of a Capacity Development Process Sustainable progress toward development goals and proof of results are moving beyond reporting the outputs of specific development learning activities to measuring how learning outcomes and capacity constraints are changed through a program.

6. Directional Shift 4 Shift: Individual knowledge and results practices  Knowledge exchange, piloting and implementation of results-oriented approaches that work Recommendation: Build Common Understanding on Learning Results Finding commonalities within existing frameworks, identifying practices that work, and creating synergies among development actors would enhance joint knowledge, improve results management, and ensure we connect in new ways to achieve scaled impact.

7. Focus on DLIs The 2009 forum in Washington, DC forwarded the concept of a Development Learning Institution or DLI as a key focus for strengthening the practice and results of capacity development, rather than using the term Development Training Institute or DTI. As DTIs move beyond a sole focus on training to become more strategic players in capacity development, the limitations of the term “DTI” become clearer and terms such as “DLI” or “Capacity Development Organizations” seem more fitting.

8. 2008 Forum on Development Training The 2009 forum was a follow up to the High Level Retreat on the Effectiveness of International Development Training held in Berlin June 2008 Delegates addressed 2 central issues: operational effectiveness of DTIs and aid effectiveness of training The retreat resulted in the “Berlin Statement on International Development Training,” an initial commitment to work toward a common approach in improving the results of development learning

9. Berlin Statement Effectiveness – Integrate learning into a capacity building effort to address not only individual learning but also sociopolitical, policy, and organizational capacity constraints. (2) Guidelines – Provide direction on program cycle management methods and tools to guide development and implementation of learning. (3) Metrics – Exchange and review results management practices and compile principles to guide good practice. (4) Country Ownership – Strengthen national and regional training institutes engaged in learning for capacity building.

10. Berlin Statement (5) Alignment – Align learning programs with partner countries’ needs assessment systems so that they meet the capacity constraints identified by local partners. (6) Harmonization – Improve harmonization of DTI efforts in results management to reduce duplication and build synergies among DTIs and their partners. (7) Collaboration – Share existing tools, didactic approaches, and lessons learned among DTIs and partners, in different countries and regions globally.

11. www.capacity-development.org For links to: June 2009 Forum Presentations June 2009 Forum Report June 2009 Forum Videos June 2008 Berlin Programme June 2008 Berlin Statement Discussions Groups on DLI Movement, Development Learning, and Results Practice