What is the NATO Lessons Learned Portal?
The NATO Lessons Learned Portal is NATO’s centralized hub for all NATO Lessons Learned information and is managed by the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre.
Observations, Lessons Identified, Best Practices, and even Lessons already Learned can be submitted to the NATO Lessons Learned Portal from all over NATO and Partner Nations. The NATO Lessons Learned Portal ensures that this valuable information finds its way through the NATO Lessons Learned Process, which is how we learn as an organization and transform the Alliance.
The NATO Lessons Learned Portal is effectively the gateway to the NATO Lessons Learned Process. The Portal also contains dedicated areas for Communities of Interest which are set up for specific communities and allow them to capture, manage, and share their topic-specific Lessons Learned information. These Communities of Interest can be requested by a sponsor organization and are set up by the NATO Lessons Learned Portal managers at the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre but managed and populated by the sponsor organization.
For example, the NATO Lessons Learned Portal currently hosts Communities of Interest for Geospatial, Counter -Improvised Explosive Devices, Cyber Defence, and many more. The NATO Lessons Learned Portal is also able to support the planning of Lessons Learned activities and includes an interface with dedicated Lessons Learned courses. Constructive feedback on the Portal is always welcome using the Discussion Forum feature within the Portal itself.
NATO Lessons Learned Portal History
In 2013, the NATO Lessons Learned Portal replaced the NATO Lessons Learned Database, allowing greater collaboration and sharing of information related to Lessons Learned. The Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre developed and manages the NATO Lessons Learned Portal in coordination with Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and SHAPE.
The NATO Lessons Learned Portal is available in two versions: one on the NATO Unclassified network accessible via the internet, and one that can be accessed on the NATO Secret network. The Portal is a platform to search for previous Lessons Learned by the whole NATO community, track the status of submitted observations as it moves through the NATO Lessons Learned Process, a place to share documents, announce Lessons Learned events (such as the annual NATO Lessons Learned Conference), and to share event outcomes.
Managing the NATO Lessons Learned Portal
The Portal is managed by the NATO Lessons Learned Portal team in the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre’s Lessons Learned Management Division.
Although the Portal relies on its users for its content, it is the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre’s NATO Lessons Learned Portal managers who are responsible for the management and maintenance; ensuring the quantity and quality of the content; assisting and facilitating the organization of Lessons Learned related activities and events via the NATO Lessons Learned Portal; and performing general NATO Lessons Learned Portal user management.
The managers facilitate uploading Lessons Learned related documents, announcements, and news, and ensure that the information provided by NATO Lessons Learned Portal users comply with the correct format and security rules.
The NATO Lessons Learned Portal team also works closely with the Communities of Interest administrators to develop, populate, and maintain their respective sites, and they ensure the Lessons Learned Point of Contact list is properly maintained and up to date, ensuring everyone within the NATO Lessons Learned community knows who is who. Finally, the NATO Lessons Learned Portal managers help to facilitate discussions going on in the NATO Lessons Learned Portal forum, furthering Lessons Learned community participation, interaction, and development.
The NATO Lessons Learned Portal managers are always ready to help those wishing to join and contribute to the Portal and/or those using the information provided therein. Portal managers provide support, advice, their experience as Lessons Learned Staff Officers and are happy to help with any queries regarding the NATO Lessons Learned Portal.
Please contact the NATO Lessons Learned Portal team for more information.