Module 3Engagement techniques

3b Running a SP Workshop

What’s in Module 3b

Why organise a SP workshop?

Planning the workshop

Facilitation techniques

Working session

Why a workshop?

What is a workshop good at?

What is a workshop not good at?

Think of situations where they have/ should have been used …

To present information and exchange views on specific aspects of an initiative/ project

To expose the views of different stakeholder groups and provide an opportunity for discussion

To define issues, plan activities, evaluate options, explain technical material or develop solutions when problems need to be resolved

Why workshops?

Source: DWAF

Workshops can provide forums to reach conclusions

But this will only be the case if a representative sample of relevant stakeholders is brought together

Planning the workshop

First clearly define the objectives of the workshop. It will then be easier to decide on the issues to cover and methods to use

Pay attention to what language will be used and if necessary organise an interpreter

Plan for methods to include stakeholder groups who are not participating, as well as to deal with potential conflicts

Round or semi-circular sitting formats are more conducive to productive discussions

Important steps

Sources: DWAF, SAIEA

Be a good listener!

Explain the initiative/ project and what it means in the local context

Let each stakeholder group select a representative. Provide representatives with sufficient information that can be distributed back to the stakeholder group and encourage them to inform their group regularly.

Let the stakeholders present their current needs and future vision of the issue under discussion.

Things to remember

Source: DWAF

What kind of facilitation?

How to ensure equal input from all participants?

Think of facilitation approaches that you think can be successful…

by themselves

analyseplanlearnimplementreflectmonitor

Allow participants to

Use communication techniques that use creative visualisation and help dialogue

Creative visualisation

flipcharts slides ZOP cards ...

Source: www.loosetooth.com

Engage in active listening

If you hear somehing you disagree with, do not respond by arguing

Engage in effective questioning

Periodically summarise what you have heard

Reframe where appropriate

Acknowledge what you have heard

Tell them what you have heard

Be a good listener

Facilitation techniques

Let’s think of different types of SP workshops…

To set goals...

To capture knowledge...

To manage conflict/ reach consensus...

What participatory techniques can you use to set goals?

List some ideas based on your experience in SP…

Strategic visioning: facilitators ask stakeholders to visualise a picture of desirable future states. The group develops imagery and stories about this future, and works backwards to understand the journey that could carry people to that vision.

Theory of constraints: identify factors that are limiting a process from achieving its goals, develop a solution to the problem, and get the individuals to invent the requisite changes for themselves.

Setting goals

What participatory techniques can you use to capture knowledge?

List some ideas based on your experience in SP…

Capturing knowledge

Venn diagram

Mapping

Brainstorming

Transect walks

What do you do when different views are aired or conflict situations arise?

Think of situations where this has happened and what approaches were used…

Managing conflict

Role-playing: stakeholders act out characters in a predefined situation, followed by an evaluation and discussion of the interaction.

Simulation games: exercises that simulate project decisions.

Trade-off games: use a ‘model’ of a real situation with real constraints (time, budget, resources) and require individuals to make choices based on their priorities.

Goal setting

Capturing knowledge

Conlfict management

Strategic visioning Theory of

constraints

Drama Brainstorming Seasonal calendar Case studies and

stories Venn diagram Mapping

Role-playing Simulation games Trade-off games Collaborative

problem-solving Negotiation Mediation Conciliation Arbitration

Scenario: working session

1. Decide why a stakeholder workshop would be relevant and define clear objectives for it.

2. Assign roles for the stakeholder workshop, where one specific facilitation technique will be used to capture knowledge: the card sorting technique. One person will be the facilitator, and all the others will represent the different stakeholder groups previously identified.

3. On separate cards, all participants should write their own ideas and concerns relating to the management and conservation of the marine and coastal habitats of the region. Write 3 issues in separate cards.

4. The facilitator will help to sort and group the cards on the board. Draw conclusions on what needs to be considered and further investigated in the management process.

5. Discuss the usefulness of the facilitation technique used in this case and what could have been done differently.