The operational principle on General Replicability of Strategies and Methods has both an internal and an external dimension to it.

The internal dimension reflects that DRC strives to be a learning organisation and hence to improve the quality of its strategies and methods and thereby results on a continuous basis. This implies that lessons learned at the programme level should be collected and documented through regular monitoring, annual reviews and periodic external evaluations so as to feed into core documentation, including revisions of the present Handbook. It is only through such a procedure that the application of best practices across all programmes can be ensured on a continuous basis.

The external dimension is aimed at sharing DRC’s strategies and methods with other agencies working in the same sectors and with similar problems. It is on

this basis that DRC often utilizes coordination and policy forums to advocate the general adoption of a specific approach that has been developed and tested within our own programmes. This is regarded as an obligation that all programmes must strive to fulfil. It also means that DRC as a matter of principle regard core documentation with regard to programme strategies and methods as being in the public domain.

The belief that DRC’s approach within a given sector and/or area is of value to other agencies is only one of the motivating factors for sharing knowledge and documentation in a transparent fashion. Among other reasons may be an ambition to ensure a homogenous approach among all assistance actors to e.g. technology choice or collaboration with local communities, often with a view to promoting sustainability.