The Securing the Local Project is funded through the NWO-Wotro Security and Rule of Law program and studies the role of local security groups in countering (the threat of) extremist violence in Kenya, Nigeria and Indonesia. The project focused on these groups' positions in society and their relations to the state, their role in conceptualizing and delivering security and their standing in terms of legitimacy and rule of law. In particular the interest lay with their actions, influence and effects in the wider context of economy, social dynamics and gender. In this one day conference, there will be presentations by the three country research teams, discussions surrounding the pros and cons of comparison as a method and a round-table on security groups in state-society relations. The conference will take place in Nieuwe Achtergracht 166 at University of Amsterdam and is free of charge. Please register via StLocalconf@gmail.com, as places are limited.  Please contact dr. L.G.H. (Laurens) Bakker at l.g.h.bakker@uva.nl for more details.

Background While learning and adaptive management approaches are mostly developed and applied in specific projects, there is a growing interest in information that can inform portfolio-level decision-making and adaptation. Aggregated data, resulting from collaborative learning initiatives, are required to inform ongoing funding cycles as well as future portfolio decisions. However, evidence on what works and what does not in terms of collaborative learning and portfolio adaptation is scarce, especially in fragile contexts. What can geographically dispersed projects working in different sectors learn from each other? How useful is a good practice that worked at the local level when it is de-contextualised? How to experiment with different approaches within one portfolio, without provoking competitive dynamics? Learning beyond the boundaries of institutions and projects to inform programme adaptation and portfolio decision-making – at the right time – remains a tall order. The workshop will provide insights into the evidence base, lessons learnt and good practices of collaborative learning initiatives, focusing on entry points for collaborative learning results to effectively inform programme adaptation and portfolio decision-making. To this end, the workshop will bring together researchers working on portfolio learning and adaptation, practitioners working in projects with collaborative learning components and policy-makers working on portfolio management. Preliminary Agenda 09:00    Welcome & introduction, Megan Price, KPSRL 09:15    Setting the scene on portfolio learning and adaption: What has been tested and deemed effective? Anne Buffardi, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Q&A 10:00    Insights from the “Addressing Root Causes (ARC)” learning agenda on adaptive programming: How to implement collaborative learning approaches?, Geert de Jonge, Red een Kind, Q&A 11:00    Coffee Break 11:15    Interactive discussion: Experience-sharing & reflections on collaborative learning and portfolio adaptation 12:30    Wrap up and closing   Click here to download event concept note.