Case study: Learning from Failure to Accelerate Success in Resilience-Building Initiatives

Authors: Dave Wilson, Sarah Robens, Simone Verkaart and Jesper Hornberg

Lutheran World Relief by S. Verkaart

The aim of this report is to share learning and insights from GRP’s experience of working with its Challenge Funds to drive innovation in resilience practice, by creating a safe space for Challenge Winners to test, learn and adapt their projects. It is aimed at those interested in learning about how to create a space to test innovations, take risks and embrace and learn from failure.

This report explores case studies based on project documentation and interviews with GRP Challenge projects and GRP secretariat members. It is intended to be reflective in nature. It is not an evaluation of the projects discussed. Failure for GRP is not viewed negatively. Instead, it represents a great opportunity to learn from and improve the project and, crucially, to document and share that learning so others avoid the same mistakes. This focus on learning has permeated the entire GRP ‘ecosystem’, from the donors through to the Fund Manager, Secretariat, learning partners and Challenge Winners.