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We Learnt a Lot: Challenges and Learning Experiences in a Southern African—North European Municipal Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development

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  • Kerstin Sonesson

    (Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, N-3679 Notodden, Norway
    Faculty of Education and Society, Malmö University, SE-20506 Malmö, Sweden
    Co-first author, these authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Birgitta Nordén

    (Faculty of Education and Society, Malmö University, SE-20506 Malmö, Sweden
    Co-first author, these authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

This study investigates a reciprocal partnership between two cities in Namibia and Sweden to deepen the understanding of challenges and learning outcomes in a project on education for sustainable development. Since 2008, two municipalities have developed a strong partnership via The Municipal Partnership Programme at the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy. Municipal partnerships are results-oriented collaborations in joint projects on sustainability. The purpose is to describe how eight team members in the mutual South-North project, by addressing similar problems in different contexts, experienced challenges in the implementation of the project plan, solutions and learning processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of the second project year. Transcripts and field notes were analysed using a phenomenographic approach and contextual analysis. Five main categories of description based on collective statements and three dimensions of learning were recognised in the research data. The analysis identifies strategies for critical knowledge formation and capability building to support mutual learning in South-North Municipal Partnerships. The concluding discussion spots the learning dimensions—how sharing experiences by justifying non-formal and transformational learning promotes organisations’ readiness for knowledge formation by conducting mutual global learning towards sustainable development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerstin Sonesson & Birgitta Nordén, 2020. "We Learnt a Lot: Challenges and Learning Experiences in a Southern African—North European Municipal Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8607-:d:430484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patti Kristjanson & Blane Harvey & Marissa Van Epp & Philip K. Thornton, 2014. "Social learning and sustainable development," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 5-7, January.
    2. Anna-Karin Högfeldt & Anders Rosén & Christine Mwase & Ann Lantz & Lena Gumaelius & Eva Shayo & Suzan Lujara & Nerey Mvungi, 2019. "Mutual Capacity Building through North-South Collaboration Using Challenge-Driven Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-30, December.
    3. Marike C. Bontenbal, 2013. "Differences In Learning Practices And Values In North–South City Partnerships: Towards A Broader Understanding Of Mutuality," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 33(2), pages 85-100, May.
    4. Alan F. Fowler, 1998. "Authentic NGDO Partnerships in the New Policy Agenda for International Aid: Dead End or Light Ahead?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 137-159, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hermínia Gonçalves, 2022. "Welfare-Partnership Dynamics and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.

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