Module 6: Peer-Learning, Knowledge Transfer, and NGO Sustainability

Module title : Peer-Learning, Knowledge Transfer, and NGO Sustainability

Module number : 6

Responsible partner organization : Asociatia Obsteasea Junior Achievement Moldova

Authors: Filipschi Laurencia, Iacob Natalia

Competence area addressed:

1. The capacity of youth workers to create, facilitate and support processes of mutual learning and knowledge transfer within and between NGOs, using non-formal education methods and digital tools, adapted to the needs of young people and organizations.
2. The ability to build and manage networks, partnerships and mentoring mechanisms between NGOs, institutions and community actors, to support social inclusion, civic engagement and youth development.
3. The capacity of NGOs to design and implement financial, institutional and community sustainability strategies, as well as to scale programs in areas such as social entrepreneurship, financial literacy, inclusion and civic engagement.

Recommended duration : 5 hours

1. Module Goal

This module develops the capacity of youth organizations to create sustainable mechanisms for mutual learning, knowledge transfer and collaboration. Participants will learn how to build mentoring networks, disseminate good practices and ensure the continuity of NGO impact through scaling and sustainability strategies.

2. Expected Results

After completing the module, participants will be able to:

• create peer learning and mentoring mechanisms
• knowledge transfer methods in the organization
• to design strategies for scaling programs
• to identify solutions for financial and operational sustainability
• develop a mini-action plan for their NGO

3. Key concepts

• Peer learning
• Organizational mentoring
• Knowledge transfer
• Learning ecosystems
• Scaling (replication, expansion)
• Sustainability (financial, institutional, community)
• Networks and partnerships

4. Preparation for the training

The trainer prepares:

• PPT presentation (all presentation can be found here: Google Drive folder)
• video presentation: Peer-Learning Video Presentation
• case studies
• worksheets (canvas, plans)
• flipchart
• internet access (optional)

5. Materials Needed

• projector
• flipchart + markers
• sticky notes
• worksheets
• pens
• laptop

6. Training session flow

7. Activities and exercises

Icebreaker: “Who taught me something valuable?”

Objective: Participants understand the concept of mutual learning and identify their own knowledge resources.

Duration: 20 min

Trainer instructions: “Today you are not just participants, you are also resources for each other.”

Instructions:

• Form pairs
• Task: “Tell your colleague about a situation where you learned something valuable from someone else”

Trainer: “It doesn’t have to be something formal – it can be any real experience.”

Materials needed:

• Flipchart
• Sticky notes

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What types of learning have emerged?
• Was it formal or informal?

Mentoring program design

Objective: developing a mentoring system

Duration: 30 min

Coach instructions:

• Form groups
• Choose the type of NGO
• Establish: mentor, mentee, objectives, duration

Materials needed:

• Handouts
• Flipchart

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What makes mentoring effective?
• What risks are there?

Knowledge Map – “What can we learn from other NGOs?”

Objective: Participants will identify and clearly formulate the knowledge, good practices and experiences that their organization can share with other NGOs, contributing to strengthening mutual learning and collaboration in the associative sector.

Duration: 20 minutes

Coach instructions:

1. Introduce the activity by explaining the importance of sharing experiences between NGOs (1–2 min).
2. Give each participant some post-its and a marker.
3. Address the task: “Write on each post-it one thing that your organization does well and that you could share with other NGOs (e.g.: working methods, tools, strategies, lessons learned).”
4. After 3–5 minutes, invite participants to stick the post-its on a flipchart or wall, forming a “knowledge map”.
5. Group ideas together with participants into categories (e.g. project management, communication, fundraising, working with beneficiaries).
6. Highlight the common patterns and strengths identified.
7. Facilitate a short reflective discussion (5–7 min).

Required materials:

• Post-its
• Markers
• Flipchart / blackboard / free wall
• Adhesive tape (optional)

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What types of knowledge appear most frequently in your organizations?
• What surprised you in your colleagues’ answers?
• Which of these practices do you think would have the greatest impact if replicated?
• How can you transform this knowledge into useful resources for other NGOs (guides, trainings, mentoring)?
• What concrete steps can you take to facilitate the exchange of experience between organizations?

Mentoring program design (extended)

Objective: Developing participants’ capacity to design a structured, realistic and impact-oriented mentoring program, by clearly defining roles (mentor/mentee), objectives and duration.

Duration: 50 minutes

Coach instructions:

1. Introduction (5 min):
   • Briefly explain what a mentoring program is and why it is important for organizational and personal development.
   • Highlight the key elements: mentor, mentee, clear objectives, duration, expected results.
2. Group formation (3 min): Divide participants into small groups (3–5 people).
3. Workload (17 min):
   • Each group creates a mini-mentoring program, following the structure: who is the mentor? who is the mentee? what are the program’s objectives? what is the duration?
   • Encourage participants to think about a real context (NGO, school, community).
4. Presentation and clarification (20 min):
   • Each group briefly presents the program they created.
   • The trainer intervenes with key questions: “Is it realistic?” “Who benefits?”
   • Provide constructive and improvement-oriented feedback.
5. Conclusion (5 min):
   • Highlight the common elements of well-structured programs.
   • Stress the importance of adapting mentoring to the needs of the beneficiaries.

Required materials:

• Flipchart sheets / A3 sheets
• Markers
• Post-it notes
• Pens
• (optional) Mentoring program structure templates

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What was the most difficult thing about creating the mentoring program?
• How did you set the goals? Were they realistic?
• Who are the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the program?
• What factors can influence the success of the program?
• How could you improve the program if you had more time?
• How can this program be applied in your organization?

“How do we pass it on?”

Objective: Developing the participants’ capacity to effectively plan the transfer of an acquired competence to other people or organizations, using a clear structure: what? how? to whom? when?, in order to ensure the sustainability of learning outcomes.

Duration: 40 minutes

Coach instructions:

1. Introduce the activity by explaining the importance of knowledge transfer within organizations (e.g. NGOs, educational institutions).
2. Present the structure of the transfer plan:
   • What? – the skill or knowledge that will be transmitted
   • How? – transmission method (training, mentoring, guide, workshop, etc.)
   • Who? – target group (colleagues, volunteers, community, etc.)
   • When? – the period or moment of implementation
3. Divide participants into small groups (2–4 people) or offer the option of individual work.
4. Task: each participant/group chooses a recently acquired competency (e.g. project writing, communication, fundraising, etc.) and creates a mini-transfer plan using the 4 key questions.
5. Provide a simple template (flipchart or worksheet) for completion.
6. After 15–20 minutes, invite 2–3 participants/groups to present their plan.
7. Facilitate the discussion, providing constructive feedback and highlighting good examples of sustainable and realistic transfer.
8. Conclude the activity by emphasizing the role of knowledge multiplication in organizational development.

Required materials:

• Flipchart / whiteboard
• Markers
• Post-its or worksheets with the structure (What? How? Who? When?)
• Pens

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• How easy will it be to clearly define what you are conveying?
• Which transfer methods did you find most effective and why?
• How did you choose the target group (who)?
• What difficulties may arise in implementing the plan?
• How can you adapt the plan to be realistic and sustainable?
• What will you do concretely after this workshop to pass on a competency?

Scaling a project – from local to regional

Objective: Developing participants’ skills to analyze, adapt and expand an existing project at the regional level, by identifying necessary resources, strategic partners and potential risks.

Duration: 40 minutes

Coach instructions:

1. Introduce the activity by explaining the concept of “scaling a project” and its importance for increasing the impact of NGOs.
2. Divide participants into small groups (3–5 people).
3. Each group chooses a project (real or hypothetical) implemented at the local level.
4. Give the task: “Imagine that you want to expand this project to a regional level (several localities/regions). Develop a mini-scaling plan that includes:”
   • necessary resources (human, financial, logistical)
   • potential partners (NGOs, public authorities, institutions, donors)
   • risks and management methods
5. Encourage groups to be realistic and think strategically (what is changing on a larger scale?).
6. After 15–20 minutes of work, each group briefly presents its ideas (2–3 minutes/group).
7. Facilitate a comparative discussion between proposals, highlighting good practices and common challenges.

Required materials:

• Flipchart or blackboard
• Markers
• A4 sheets / post-its
• Simple scaling plan template (optional)

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What was the most difficult part of scaling the project?
• What additional resources are absolutely essential at the regional level?
• How does the role of partners change as the project grows?
• What new risks are emerging and how can they be prevented?
• What would you do differently if you implemented this plan in reality?
• How do we ensure the sustainability of the project after expansion?

NGO Plan – Mini-sustainability plan

Objective: Developing the capacity of participants to create a mini-sustainability plan for an NGO, by identifying the resources, funding sources, partnerships and actions necessary for the continuity of the organization.

Duration: 30–40 minutes

Coach instructions:

1. Introduction (5 min): The trainer briefly explains the concept of sustainability in NGOs: financial continuity, resource diversification, community involvement, partnership development. It asks the question: “What makes an NGO last over time?”
2. Task explanation (5 min): Each participant (or team) will create a mini-sustainability plan for a real or imaginary NGO, answering the following key questions:
   • What resources do we have?
   • What sources of income can we develop?
   • Who can we collaborate with?
   • What income-generating activities can we initiate?
   • How do we ensure long-term continuity?
3. Individual/group work (15–20 min): Participants complete the mini-plan using a simple structure (e.g. table or canvas):
   • Existing resources
   • Sources of funding
   • Partner
   • Sustainability activities
   • Risks and solutions

   The coach circulates and provides support, guidance, and clarification.

4. Presentation and feedback (5–10 min): 2–3 participants present their plans. The trainer provides constructive feedback and highlights innovative and realistic ideas.

Required materials:

• A4 sheets / flipchart
• Markers
• Post-its
• Mini-plan template (optional)
• Pens

Debriefing/reflection questions:

• What was the most difficult part of developing the plan?
• What sources of sustainability are most realistic for your NGO?
• What role do partnerships play in sustainability?
• What risks have you identified and how can you reduce them?
• What would you do differently if you had more time?
• How can you apply this plan in the real work of your NGO?

8. Learning methods

• group discussion
• case study
• role-playing game
• peer learning
• reflection exercises
• brainstorming

9. Adaptation possibilities

• shorter training format
• online delivery
• groups of different sizes: multiple facilitators

10. Online/digital component

• PPT presentation slides
• reading materials
• tasks
• reflection tasks
• video materials

11. Evaluation / Reflection

• discussion/reflection
• final reflection questions
• feedback form
• self-assessment of competencies