Why e-learning in the NGO sector should be different

The NGO* sector is struggling with its e-learning strategies. Aside from a few exceptions, this is what the current e-learning landscape looks like:

• Organisations look to the corporate sector for expertise and end up with a range of one-hour individual training modules.
• Further inspired by the corporate sector, NGOs run webinar programmes – usually the expert-centred type with a short Q&A at the end.
• NGOs have partnerships with universities so staff can upskill by doing one of the university’s online courses (management and leadership are the most popular subjects).

Yet corporate and university style e-learning is only effective for a very small part of the NGO sector’s learning needs. This sector has a very different mission and unique challenges, which should be reflected in how staff and target groups are supported in their learning.

Simply put, the foci of e-learning programmes in the different sectors could be set apart like this:

E-learning in educational sector → assessment
E-learning in corporate sector → compliance/systems
E-learning in NGO sector → … (empowerment)

Based on the NGO sector’s missions, I believe the focus of most learning events in this sector must be empowerment, regardless of the fact that non-profit organisations usually need some basic compliance and systems training as well to support efficient work processes.

However – looking at current NGO e-learning programmes – it seems many NGOs lost track of their mission when devising their e-learning strategy.

For their main capacity building efforts, the NGO sector shouldn’t emulate the e-learning approaches used in corporate or educational sectors. To develop the employees through staff training or to bring about a positive change in society at large, this sector needs distinctly different methodologies.

I have written before about the need for more social constructivism in the development sector. The arguments are valid for a broad range of NGOs.

These approaches aim to empower people rather than just train them. The difference between these concepts is important. When we empower people, they become real change agents and have/take the authority to make a difference, to do something to address problems – within their organisations or communities.

In fact, across all sectors we could achieve so much more with e-learning if the focus is on empowerment (an interesting article here), but I feel it’s even more urgent to get this right in the NGO sector because this is at the core of their missions. Ignoring this focus means they are doing a considerable disservice to their staff, target groups and funders.

*To keep it simple I include non-profit, not-for-profit and charities in this group.