From bottleneck to best practice: Building capacity with story-based learning

Project managers at an international organization were required to mainstream gender into every phase of their work, but many felt unprepared. This created a bottleneck, as they had to rely on a limited pool of expensive external consultants and an overtaxed internal team. The organization needed a systemic solution to build independent capacity.

 

I was asked to design a scalable, online course. The first step was a deep dive learning needs analysis to understand the specific pain points and challenges staff were facing. Those insights were used to design a solution built around scenario-based learning (SBL). By putting staff in realistic project situations, the course made a complex topic practical and relevant, ensuring they could immediately apply their new skills on the job.

The results validated this approach. After completing the course, staff didn't just report a minor increase in their understanding; they reported a significant increase in both their grasp of the concepts and their confidence in integrating gender into every stage of the project cycle. The project's success was not just in the delivery of a course, but in the measurable empowerment of the people who make the organization's mission a reality.