Humanitarian systemic learning framework toolkit

The Humanitarian Strategic Learning Framework was developed by Ben Ramalingam for ALNAP, drawing on the multi-level perspective (MLP) of scholar Frank Geels.

• It can be used proactively or retrospectively for analysing change processes in the humanitarian sector.
• It specifically takes into account the impact of crises on the existing humanitarian sector.
• It explores how change plays out at the overall landscape, the sector itself and the niches of the sector.
• It enables analysis of how changes at these levels interact and reinforce or dampen change at other level.
• It can be used by leaders, policy makers and researchers seeking to better understand past change processes – successful or otherwise.
• It can also inform strategic analysis of ongoing or hoped-for changes.

Frank Geels' MLP consists of:

• Landscape, which represents the wider environment – both humanitarian and wider socio-political and economic contextual trends, drivers and factors.
• Socio-technical regimes, which entails the specific configuration of funding, policies, technologies, processes, cultures and skills that underpin dominant patterns of behaviour and action.
• Niches, which can be described as the emerging efforts where new niche activities gives rise to novel innovations, operating models and communities.