Transforming technical expertise into digital learning
Client Context
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT commissioned the development of a new e‑learning programme as part of the Adaptation Insights project. The objective was to equip agribusiness SMEs with practical, scalable skills in impact measurement and tracking, building on earlier AICCRA work that supported more than 60 SMEs through one‑to‑one guidance.
The Alliance needed a partner who could design a full digital learning experience end‑to‑end: curriculum, content, production, platform build, analytics and long‑term scalability. Leeway was selected based on its demonstrated success designing CGIAR’s Innovation & Scaling course, which achieved more than 2,800 enrolments.
The Challenge
The Climate Action team held extensive technical material on impact measurement and climate adaptation — but none of it was formatted, structured or written for digital delivery. The challenge was to translate complex research and practitioner tools into a clear, engaging, modular online course suitable for global SME audiences with diverse literacy levels, connectivity constraints and learning needs.
The course also needed to act as a foundation for multiple future user journeys (e.g., investors, policymakers, development practitioners), and provide a model CGIAR teams could replicate when designing future capacity‑building programmes.
Core Question
How do we turn a rich but highly technical evidence base into a practical, accessible, scalable e‑learning programme that helps agribusiness SMEs measure and track impact with confidence?
Our Approach
We worked end‑to‑end across curriculum design, instructional design, project management and digital production.
1. Curriculum & structure
We worked with the Climate Action team to clarify the purpose, audiences and outcomes of the programme, establishing a full course architecture and development roadmap. This included format, module structure, technology requirements, templates and partner roles.
2. Content development
We rewrote technical material into accessible digital scripts, developed reading content, and built case studies grounded in the SME experience. The work included editing, proofing and shaping content for a non‑expert audience.
3. Visual design & production
We produced all course graphics, designed a coherent visual identity and delivered high‑quality videos — including recording, editing and subtitling — ensuring accessibility across geographies and devices.
4. Platform build
We built the full course in Thinkific, incorporating navigation, interaction, assessments, reference materials, and analytics so performance could be monitored and reported.
5. Feedback & iteration
We designed and implemented soft‑launch evaluation tools, analysed learner feedback and provided a recommendations report to sharpen content, UX and future iterations.
6. Future scaling roadmap
On completion, we delivered a strategic roadmap outlining how the programme could be adapted for additional user groups (SMEs, policymakers, practitioners, investors) and scaled through repeatable frameworks and online delivery models.
How We Worked
Our approach was collaborative, structured and highly practical. We provided continuous consultancy to the technical team, helping them shape content for online learning, supporting their decision‑making on platform use, and ensuring the production process was streamlined and efficient.
We translated technical expertise into a clear, learner‑centred narrative — using modern adult‑learning principles, short learning blocks, accessible language and a strong focus on usability and engagement.
Contribution from the Client
The Climate Action team brought deep subject‑matter expertise, clarity of ambition and generous collaboration. They engaged actively in content review, shared real‑world examples, and ensured technical accuracy throughout.
Their openness and commitment made it possible to design a rigorous yet accessible programme tailored to the realities of agri‑SMEs.
Key Findings
Three insights shaped the final programme:
Technical content needs full redesign for online learning. Direct reuse of reports, presentations or academic materials does not meet digital learning standards.
A learner‑first design dramatically increases clarity and engagement. SME audiences require concise, applied, mobile‑friendly content, not policy or research language.
Scalability requires standardisation. Repeatable frameworks, templates and video standards enable future course development across CGIAR.
Emerging Impact
The programme established a new digital benchmark for impact‑measurement learning within CGIAR. The roadmap delivered alongside it now guides multiple teams as they design their own capacity‑building initiatives.
Key results include:
A fully‑produced, high‑quality e‑learning course ready for launch and scale
A structured foundation for additional learning journeys (e.g., investors, policymakers, practitioners)
A replicable model for rapid future development
Strengthened CGIAR internal capability in digital learning design
The success of this work has led to continued collaboration with CGIAR on translations, capacity‑development design, and digital‑learning strategy.
Why LEEWAY
We bring clarity to complexity. Our blend of instructional design, digital production and organisational development allows us to take technical material and turn it into clear, structured and compelling learning.
For this assignment, we delivered not just a course — but a scalable model, a strengthened team and a roadmap for the future of climate‑adaptation capacity building across CGIAR.