E-Learning with the Development Account     
E-learning and blended learning methodologies, either on its own or in a hybrid/mixed model, have become more frequently used for delivering capacity development activities. The COVID-19 Pandemic has further accelerated the need to explore alternatives to in-person mechanisms for delivering capacity development.

In response, the Development Account (DA) launched a new effort to strengthen the readiness of its implementing entities for using e-learning – either on its own or in combination with face-to-face modalities – to strengthen the institutional capacity of member States, that resulted in a report on Blended learning methodologies for capacity development and an E-Learning Webinar series.

Blended learning Methodologies and E-Learning Resources    
The Blended learning methodologies for capacity development report assesses the current state of e-learning in the economic and social entities of the UN Secretariat and identifies best practices and lessons learned in supporting capacity development through E-learning, or mixed/hybrid methods, and for adapting face-to-face trainings to the online space.

The report was presented a meeting of relevant UN Secretariat staff involved in capacity development, on 3 November 2020.

• Report on Blended Learning Methodologies for Capacity Development
• Presentations on e-learning methodologies at the 3 November 2020 meeting
  • Findings from Development Account report: Blended Learning Methodologies for Capacity Development
  • UNCTAD: TrainForTrade – Blended Learning Methodologies for Capacity Development
  • UNHABITAT: Sustainable City Policies in Latin America – Lessons Learned from the Online Workshop

Please use the below link to access additional E-learning resources:    
E-learning resources from Blended Learning Methodologies for Capacity Development 

Development Account E-Learning Webinar Series  
The E-Learning Webinar Series will cover various topics related to digitization and capacity development. Given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to delivering capacity development projects, the blended learning methodologies the E-Learning Webinars will focus on are particularly important as we continue to implement projects in the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th tranche.

The webinars will take place every other week and will last for 60-90 minutes each depending on the interaction with participants. To accommodate for various time zones the sessions will be held twice, 3:30am and 9:00am New York time. Recordings of the sessions will be made available afterwards, kindly use the links below. Together with the related powerpoints and any additional material.

• 10th of February 2021: Session 1 – Recording: Blended Learning Methodologies for Capacity Development. Additional material: PowerPoint.
• 3rd of March 2021: Session 2 – Recording: Case studies from entities implementing online learning (UNCTAD and UN-Habitat). Additional material: PowerPoint.
• 17th of March: Session 3 – Recoding: Innovative approaches including virtual reality (VR) and gamification in learning. Additional material: PowerPoint. Brooklyn Institute paper on Policy Innovation.
• 31st of March: Session 4 – Recording: Tips for making Self-Guided eLearning content more interactive and engaging. Additional material: PowerPoint, Self-Guided eLearning content tools.
• 30th of June: Session 5 – Recording: Measuring Impact. Additional material: PowerPoint.

The Development Account further hosted focus sessions that built on the DA eLearning webinar series, providing participants with:

(i) Practical exposure to hands-on tools for effectively delivering and participating in interactive online workshops.  
(ii) User-centred design thinking methods for co-designing blended learning strategies based on user needs, problem definition and ideation. The design process will be structured around real-world challenges faced when trying to adapt Development Account projects to blended formats. The outputs will be project-level blended learning strategies.  
(iii)Opportunity to engage in small groups with colleagues from other entities and programmes.   
Recording: Focus Session. Additional material: PowerPoint, Templates.