Peer-to-peer learning

Peer-to-peer learning

Expand your knowledge through our worldwide network of cities actively engaged in urban food policies.

Through online and offline meetings between food policy coordinators in cities around the world, we create peer-to-peer learning spaces. We focus on small groups to ensure in-depth interaction and exchange. This approach allows you to gather inspirational input from other cities that you can put into practice, and to share your own expertise by coaching and inspiring others. The peer-to-peer learning focuses both on thematic challenges as well as on how to create ownership at different levels, how to communicate, etc.

We facilitate peer-to-peer learning in 5 steps

1. Identifying learning needs & partners

Via an internal survey and/or a workshop with your team, we identify specific learning needs and areas of expertise from your team and match your city with one or more cities from our network.

2. Co-creating a learning trajectory

Depending on the time availability of all participants, transport restrictions, budgets and needs, we co-create with your team a learning trajectory that can last from a week to a year. Activities within the trajectory may include field visits, intervention workshops (which can be online), discussions with experts and self-reflection moments.

3. Implementing the learning trajectory

We facilitate the logistics and smooth running of your learning journey according to the pre-agreed calendar.

4. Documenting lessons and reflections

Based on your needs and those of your stakeholder base, we produce a concise and visually attractive report summarising the main lessons, ideas and outcomes of the learning trajectory so that you and your colleagues remember the main takeaways, even years later.

5. Facilitating the development of a post-exchange follow-up plan

After a positive exchange full of energy, life may catch-up and all your new ideas may go into the bin if they’re not quickly translated into an actionable plan. We assist you and your colleagues to reflect on the key takeaways from your learning experience, to turn them into a realistic action plan. From lessons to action!

Discover our track record

Food Smart Cities network

We bring together city-regions to exchange on policies and practices that contribute to sustainable, fair and healthy food systems.

Main activities:

  1. We facilitate thematic learning exchanges between cities in our network, with support from the University of Ghent. We organise physical exchanges and learning journeys in cities.
  2. We support you in participating in international projects with a local focus, e.g. Generation Food: to support the creation and incubation of businesses contributing to sustainable, healthy and nutritious diets.

Belgian learning network of pioneering cities

We bring together a group of pioneering cities at regional level to facilitate peer-to-peer learning on different aspects of food policy work.

Main activities:

  1. We organise on- and offline working sessions throughout a year-long trajectory
  2. We integrate one-to-one coaching between cities and provide training.
  3. Exchange with international cities and their expertise on specific challenges

Do you want to know more?

I'd be happy to tell you how your city-region can also benefit from the peer-to-peer learning exchanges.

Thibault Geerardyn
Thibault Geerardyn
Directeur van Rikolto in België
+32 16 31 65 83