Hazard risk managers in Switzerland face multiple challenges due to increasing damage potential resulting from climate change. This calls for a new integrative risk management paradigm that targets involvement of all relevant actors. An innovative program to strengthen knowledge was introduced in 2011 by the Federal Office for Environment and Nature (FOEN), in which locally anchored lay persons are trained as local natural hazard consultants (LNHC). The key objective of the program is to complement LNHCs’ on-site experience with professional knowledge to support community crisis committees and tighten networks between actors. This study takes a social learning perspective in the context of this training program and interprets actors as a Community of Practice (CoP) in a social learning system. We evaluated the program with regard to its stated knowledge transfer goals and effects on the CoP. Applying a mixed-method study design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with cantonal training program coordinators (n = 12), followed by a quantitative survey of LNHC (N = 194). Results show an increased availability of knowledge, but the effects show better stability when participants are continuously involved in the CoP. We conclude that sustainable learning is enhanced by fostering the CoP and that risk awareness plays a crucial role in the implementation of the program.