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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The most commonly asked questions about the SLC are below. If you do not find the answer to your question(s), please contact us. We are happy to help you find the information you need to support your SLC learning journey! 

SLC OVERVIEW

The SLC is designed for professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of what works to achieve successful and sustainable scale-up. Its primary audience includes global health and development professionals working across diverse sectors and technical areas.

Learners gain access to practical guidance, tools, experience, and resources to support more systematic and effective scale-up—beginning as early as the pilot stage and continuing through strategy development and implementation. This curriculum is relevant to a wide range of professionals, including:

  • Governmental/ministerial program managers, policymakers, and staff
  • National and international NGOs
  • Funders and development banks/funding institutions
  • Civil society, faith-based and community-based organizations
  • Academics and researchers
  • Others interested in advancing the successful scale-up of evidence-based initiatives. 

There are no prerequisites for the SLC curriculum. However, familiarity with program implementation in global health or development is helpful, as learners are encouraged to reflect on their own practical experience while engaging with the curriculum. The reading level is generally aimed at university- or postgraduate-level learners. 

Although ExpandNet/WHO’s guidance tools were initially developed to support the scaling of global health interventions, they have been applied widely across other sectors over the past decade, including education, natural resource conservation, food security and sustainable agriculture, and water and sanitation, among others. These applications have demonstrated the broad relevance of ExpandNet/WHO’s framework and approach across diverse development contexts.

Accordingly, the SLC is  designed to be versatile and applicable beyond health. While examples from the health sector may appear frequently, the underlying principles, concepts, and lessons presented are relevant across a wide range of sectors and initiatives. 

Once the SLC is live, you may register and begin at any time. There are no fixed start or end dates, allowing you to progress at your own pace and align your learning with your schedule and professional commitments.

For those participating in the Team Track, teams will typically agree on a shared timeline for moving through sections of the curriculum together. For guidance on structuring a Team Track experience, please contact the Secretariat at secretariat@expandnet.net.

The SLC curriculum consists of an introductory module followed by four core modules. After Module I introduces the ExpandNet/WHO scaling framework, Modules II, III, and IV align with key phases of ExpandNet’s systematic approach to scale up.

The modules integrate a range of learning resources including videos, transcripts, readings, guidance tools, presentation templates, exercises, and real-life case examples from diverse settings. These materials are designed to deepen your understanding of effective scaling practice and strengthen your ability to apply key concepts in your work and to help you share your learning with your collaborators. You will also benefit from hearing about the practical experience of scaling implementers from various parts of the world. Module lessons have both scored Learning Checks and short answer Reflection Questions. At the end of each module, an assessment helps gauge comprehension and reinforce your understanding of key concepts covered.

The SLC is designed to enable you to:

  1. Define scaling up and explain its importance for achieving sustainable impact
  2. Describe and apply a systematic approach to scale up and its role in long-term sustainability and success
  3. Use ExpandNet/WHO guidance tools to plan for and manage the scale-up process
  4. Analyze case studies of scaling initiatives using the ExpandNet guidance

 

Once the SLC has launched and you have registered and accepted the learner agreement, you will receive immediate access to the available modules. Modules will be released as they are finalized over the course of 2026. You are welcome to explore and engage with any of the available modules, materials, and resources at your own pace based on your interests and priorities. This flexible structure allows you to begin immediately and progress according to your schedule as new modules become available.

 

Each module in the SLC is designed as a standalone resource to support you and your colleagues in your scaling journey. We expect that most Self-Guided and Team-Track learners may wish to work through only the module(s) most relevant to them at that point in time, although you are encouraged to come back to complete the entire curriculum as time allows. 

We hope that all SLC learners will be motivated to study the entire curriculum at some point to gain a wider foundation of systematic scale-up that can inform future scale-up work. If you are participating in the Team Track, please feel welcome to be in touch with the ExpandNet Secretariat to receive guidance on how to make the most effective use of the platform. 

The length of time required to complete the entire curriculum will vary based on which learning track you select and how much time you can dedicate to your learning. All SLC learners have the flexibility to progress at their own pace and explore each module in as much depth as they choose. For Team Track participants, completion time depends on the pace set by the team. However, since the Team Track does not require completion of all modules, the choice of whether to pursue a Certificate will be up to the individuals within the team. 

While your access to the SLC will not expire, once you register as an SLC Certificate Track learner, you will have one year to successfully complete the entire curriculum. This timeframe is in place to encourage consistent engagement. We encourage you to work through the content within this year, and if additional time is needed, you may contact the ExpandNet Secretariat to request an extension. We are fully committed to supporting your efforts and ensuring you can successfully obtain your certificate of completion.

At this time, we do not offer professional development credit, continuing medical education or continuing education unit credits for completing the SLC curriculum, though this may become available be an offering in the future. If you have completed the Certificate Track and would like to be notified if and when this service becomes available, please inform the ExpandNet Secretariat at secretariat@expandnet.net. 

While the first version of the SLC has been developed in English, we envision that future versions will soon follow in French, Spanish, and hopefully even Portuguese and Arabic. ExpandNet members live in many countries and speak many languages and we plan to work collaboratively to ensure that the SLC is broadly useful across the globe, with the goal of expanding access to systematic scale-up approaches across diverse language and learning contexts.

If you would like to be notified when certain language offerings become available, please contact SLC@expandnet.net or keep checking back.

LEARNING TRACKS

The SLC provides a “certificate of completion” for Certificate-Track learners who have successfully completed the entire curriculum and achieved a minimum passing score (80%) on all learning checks and assessments. 

If you are currently enrolled in the Self-Guided or Team Track and decide you would like to earn a certificate of completion, please contact the ExpandNet Secretariat at secretariat@expandnet.net to request conversion to the Certificate Track. 

No, a Certificate Track learner does not have to complete the modules in order. However, while the curriculum is self-paced and can be worked through in any order, we recommend following the logical progression of the modules to the extent possible to ensure a comprehensive understanding of scaling up.

You may revisit any module or topic at any time – and as often as you wish – and you can move between sections as needed. You can repeat modules, or parts or sections, to reinforce your knowledge and skills or explore specific areas of interest more deeply. There is no limit to the number of times you can work through SLC resources, and repeated engagement will further strengthen your skills and understanding.

Yes, successful completion of the learning checks and assessments – with at least 80% correct scores on each – is required to earn a certificate. The good news is that you can re-review the material and retake learning checks and assessments multiple times, ensuring you can demonstrate your understanding and achieve your certificate. However, after five failed attempts on any one evaluation, you will be asked to contact the Secretariat to discuss your progress. 

Yes! Certificates must be renewed every 3 years to ensure your mastery of the content remains robust. Experience has shown that repeated exposure to the SLC contents over time is helpful as the particular scaling issues you face, your learning priorities and your areas of focus evolve. 

We will let you know via email a few months before your certificate expires. This notification will outline the requirements for renewal. We are committed to supporting you in maintaining an active certificate and will work with you to make the renewal process as straightforward as possible. 

Enrollment in the Mentor Track is limited to a small group of learners and requires an application and acceptance into the Track via the ExpandNet Secretariat. It is designed for those who wish to engage more deeply with SLC content, with coaching from ExpandNet technical advisors around the world.

SLC Mentor Track learners will be trained and equipped as facilitators who can provide technical support to others on scaling-up in their countries, regions, and at the global level. Therefore, prior experience with scaling up and/or an appropriate professional role is required to apply.

CONNECTING WITH THE SLC COMMUNITY

SLC learners who register for the Certificate or Team Track, as well as those accepted into the Mentor Track, will all have access to our SLC Community space, where we aim to foster active exchange of scale-up experience and learning among peers engaged in scaling work across countries and regions of the world. At this time, Self-Guided learners are not invited to join the interactive SLC Community.

In addition to access to the SLC Community, SLC learners may also engage in other communications and learning opportunities with ExpandNet leaders, including through email, in-platform announcements, online chat, and even periodic Zoom webinars and video conferences. 

Team Track learners will have the opportunity to interact asynchronously within their teams in a dedicated workspace and are encouraged to contact the ExpandNet Secretariat for guidance on how to make the most effective use of the platform. For those in the Mentor Track, ongoing communication with one or more scaling-up coaches is an essential part of the Mentor Track certification process. 

If you have any questions or need support, you may contact us at any time. 

In the coming years, we intend to periodically organize cohort groups of learners (e.g., implementers, funders, CEOs/EDs, Mentors, etc.) who can proceed through the curriculum together. These cohorts may be organized by start date, region, or other shared characteristics. Working in cohorts is intended to foster exchange and facilitate interactive, comparative learning.

If you would like assistance organizing a cohort for your organization or network, please let us know. We will announce any open cohort opportunities through email or on the platform in case you or your colleagues wish to participate. 

Yes, you may save or print all SLC documents and resources, as the materials are designed to be widely used and shared. However, use of SLC materials is subject to certain restrictions outlined in the Learner Agreement, which all users must accept prior to access.

Whenever SLC materials—including writings, slides, presentation narratives, agendas, etc.— are used, they must provide attribution to Partners in Expanding Health Quality and Access and its ExpandNet program as the source. Partners in Expanding Health Quality and Access holds the copyright to the entire contents of the SLC.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

There is no cost to register as a learner in the SLC. Learners have different levels of access to SLC features depending on their chosen learning track—Certificate, Team, or Self-Guided Track. The various features are listed on the Learning Tracks page. At this point, there is no cost associated with pursuing the Mentor Track, but space is quite limited and an accepted application is required.

Once the SLC is launched, you will be able to enroll in the Self-Guided, Certificate, or Team Track by completing a registration form and providing the requested information. You will have the option to select from three main learning tracks:

  • Self-Guided Track: Designed for learners seeking access to the SLC but who do not wish to commit to completing the entire curriculum. This track is often appropriate if you need guidance on a specific phase of scale-up. For example, if you are designing a project that you hope will scale in the future, you may wish to focus on content related to Phase I of ExpandNet’s systematic approach to scale up.
  • Certificate Track: Tailored for learners aiming to establish a strong grasp of fundamental scaling principles. Certificate Track learners are motivated to become scaling experts and receive documentation confirming successful completion of the full curriculum and mastery of core scale-up concepts.
  • Team Track: Designed for collaborative learning and application of SLC guidance among colleagues working together to plan or scale a specific intervention package. These may include interorganizational teams from governmental and non-governmental entities, or colleagues working in a single organization or project. This track supports applied learning and strategic planning, strengthens internal capacity, and fosters a shared understanding and language around scaling and joint application of “scaling-up mindset.” In some cases, Team Track participants may request coaching from scaling experts by contacting the ExpandNet Secretariat (secretariat@expandnet.net).

In addition to the above three tracks, a Mentor Track is available to a select group of learners who wish to engage more deeply with the content through coaching from existing ExpandNet technical advisors. Mentor Track participants are trained and equipped as facilitators who can provide technical support to others on scaling-up in their countries, regions, or at the global level. Prior experience with scaling up, and/or an appropriate professional role is required to apply. Enrollment is limited and requires submission and acceptance of an application by the ExpandNet Secretariat.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

We offer technical support to assist you with any issues you encounter in using the SLC. You can reach us by emailing us slc@expandnet.net.