# Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: a qualitative analysis of experts’ perspectives

## TL;DR

This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of South-South learning exchanges through expert interviews, highlighting opportunities for improvement.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the mechanisms and challenges of South-South learning exchanges based on expert perspectives.

## Key findings

- Experts highlighted participant empowerment and peer-to-peer learning as key strengths of SSLE.
- Resource intensity and lack of validated methodology were identified as major weaknesses.
- National and international funding can enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of SSLE.

## Abstract

Background:

South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE support mechanisms and processes are not well documented in the scientific literature. This study explored experts’ perspective on SSLEs, strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms leading to outcomes.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews on experience of participants and organizers of SSLEs. Data were collected between 1
st September 2021 to 26
th November 2021. All data were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed. In the analysis, we adopted an inductive approach derived from thematic analysis.

Results:

Sixteen experts who have participated in or facilitated one or more SSLE were interviewed. Experts’ accounts demonstrated an appreciation of participants’ empowerment, positive peer-to-peer “mind change” and convincing and powerful hands-on learning of this approach as strengths in the successful implementation of the SSLE. Being resource heavy, participant reluctance and absence of a validated methodology emerged as main weaknesses of the South-South learning approach, which could impair the effectiveness of this scheme.

Conclusions:

The SSLE is a promising approach to exchange knowledge and experience to work toward a desired change. This study suggested that this approach could gain robustness and credibility adopting a validated and systematic methodology. Furthermore, national and international funds improve availability of and accessibility to learning on the SSLE.