The importance of mutual study

Why does mutual learning matter for global development?
In recent decades, spaces for development cooperation have shifted to include trilateral, south-south, north-south, and south-north configurations. While the UK and the US have withdrawn from some of their multilateral commitments, other countries including the BRICS have built new spaces for collaboration. Mutual learning can encourage these new spaces and information sharing by challenging behaviours such as national exceptionalism. While some may be reluctant to see beyond the differences in their contexts, those who invest in mutual learning often report finding significant commonalities and benefits from learning with counterparts working in very different contexts.
Mutual learning recognises that challenges like climate change, inequality, democratic backsliding, and epidemics are not ‘problems for the Global South’, but shared, if perhaps experienced differently. The Sustainable Development Goals reinforce this, by providing a framework and platform for sharing innovations, skills, and expertise across borders to address global challenges. At a more local level, it has prompted IDS to engage in research related to these challenges in the UK, including the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme’s collaborations with the Brighton and Hove Council, and the Digital Cluster’s work on disconnected workers and rapid digitization through Covid-19.
How do we walk the talk
IDS’ approach is rooted in our commitment to principles of reciprocity, justice, acknowledging and balancing power dynamics, participation, respect, and curiosity. We have a long history of championing these values through participatory methods, power analysis, and engaged partnerships. The Rising Powers in International Development Programme explored different existing approaches to policy and learning exchange through the Mutual Learning Research initiative. This programme developed into the Centre for Rising Powers and Development, and two of the IDS International Initiatives, described below.
We encourage learning in collaboration and for general benefit versus learning for our own benefit. We continually question the position we take and our role in co-designing mutual learning opportunities. Often, our role is to convene safe spaces for conversations, build networks, help to diversify the voices at the table, and ultimately champion the value of mutual learning.