NATO

What is the NLLP? 

The NATO Lessons Learned Portal (NLLP) is NATO’s centralized hub for all NATO Lessons Learned information and is managed by the JALLC. Observations, Lessons Identified, Best Practices, and even Lessons already Learned can be submitted to the NLLP from all over NATO and Partner Nations. The NLLP 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 NLLP is effectively the gateway to the NATO Lessons Learned Process. The NLLP also contains dedicated areas for Communities of Interest which are set up for specific communities and allows 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 NLLP managers at the JALLC but managed and populated by the sponsor organization. For example, the NLLP currently hosts Communities of Interest for Geospatial, Counter -Improvised Explosive Devices, Cyber Defence, and many more. The NLLP is also able to support the planning of Lessons Learned activities and includes an interface with dedicated Lessons Learned courses. Constructive feedback on the NLLP is always welcome using the Discussion Forum feature within the NLLP.

NLLP History 

In 2013, the NLLP replaced the NATO Lessons Learned Database, allowing greater collaboration and sharing of information related to Lessons Learned. The JALLC developed and manages the NLLP in coordination with HQ Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and SHAPE. The NLLP 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. Developed using SharePoint technology as the basis, the NLLP 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 NLLP

The NLLP is managed by the NLLP team in the JALLC's Lessons Learned Management Division. Although the NLLP relies on its users for its content, it is the JALLC's NLLP managers who are responsible for managing and maintaining the NLLP. The management and maintenance tasks can be divided into three core activities: ensuring the quantity and quality of the content; assisting and facilitating the organization of Lessons Learned related activities and events via the NLLP; and general NLLP user management. 

The NLLP managers facilitate uploading Lessons Learned related documents, announcements, and news, and ensure that the information provided by NLLP users comply with the correct format and security rules. In particular, the Tracking Area of the NLLP (available only on the NATO Secret NLLP), which allows the stages of the NATO Lessons Learned Process for a particular Lesson to be monitored, requires careful and constant management to ensure quality content. The NLLP 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 NLLP managers help to facilitate discussions going on in the NLLP forum, furthering Lessons Learned community participation, interaction, and development.

The NLLP managers are always ready to help those wishing to join and contribute to the NLLP and/or those using the information provided on the NLLP. The NLLP managers provide support, advice, and their experience as Lessons Learned Staff Officers and are happy to help with any queries you may have regarding the NLLP. Please contact the NLLP team for more information.