ELLA: an ambitious new DFID programme to communicate knowledge of innovative Latin American development policies and practices

Technologies for climate change, productive chains for farm goods, innovative health and nutrition services, closing the 'urban divide'… These are all issues on which Latin America has many useful lessons to share with the rest of the world.

But cultural context, language and communication challenges all mean that accessing and using Latin American development knowledge can be difficult.

ELLA - Evidence and Lessons from Latin America - aims to enable researchers, practitioners and policy makers from around the world to tap into that Latin American knowledge with greater ease.

ELLA will support the collation and synthesis of high quality knowledge from across the continent on issues of emerging interest, based on research and practical examples; present this information in user-friendly form for target audiences; and facilitate the growth of strong knowledge networks between Latin America, Asia and Africa. The latest web and non-web technologies will be exploited to support knowledge exchange and help build 'networks of trust'.

The programme is funded by DFID (UK Department for International Development) and is being designed by a consortium of southern and northern development research and practice organisations: Practical Action Consulting (Peru-lead), South South North (Brazil), Grade (Peru), IIED-LA (Argentina), IIED (UK), ACTS (Kenya) and Kite (Ghana).

Participate in ELLA …

To design ELLA effectively, Practical Action Consulting encourages potential users of ELLA to complete a very short online survey. Alternatively, please visit the ELLA Facebook page and post a comment, suggestion or relevant material.