‘I cannot teach anybody anything……… I can only make them think’

Socrates

EU‐wide SeminarBrussels, 21 February 2013

Integration through empowerment and cooperation:The role of youth organisations

Peer reviews: an empowering tool for in-depth review of integration practices Allen Creedy, ethical partnership

Ethical partnership • 1990’s developed Peer Review systems 

for OECD, EU and UN• 15+ years experience of using peer 

review as tool to help nation and member states, regions, NGO’s, cities and municipalities to improve their performance and institute change

• Expertise across all thematic areas; Integration, Environment, Economy, Enterprise, Energy..

• Offices in UK & France and associates in many EU countries 

• Guided by our ethical principles

Peer Review Peer (Noun)A person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person

Review (Verb) Examine or assess (something) with the possibility or intention of instituting change

Peer Review?

“Critical friends providing independent assessment of our progress towards benchmarks of performance “ Delivers• Honest third party review of achievements and 

future prospects• Independent external transparent challenge to  the 

status quoProcess • Enhances participation by internal and external 

stakeholders• Stimulates development and adoption of new ideas• political and • Stimulates internal and external communication and adds credibility to organisations’ work demonstrating them as a role model.

iYouth ‐ peer review  processA series of logical inter‐related steps 

along a path that follows from and are based on our agreement to the Standard Model….

• Standard Model – “the ideal migrant youth organisation ‐ our benchmark”

• Initial Report – self assessment of the  performance of the organisation tested and compared against the benchmark”

• Initial Report ‐ Desk review • Peer Review visit• Peer Review Presentation • Peer Review report 

Initial report – self assessment • The Initial Report is an essential 

part of the peer review and;• includes a profile of the Youth 

Organisation (political, institutional, financial, cultural and social environment in which it operates).

• Assesses the ways in which key members of the Youth Organisation think it compares with the Standard Model

• includes details of those projects and services that the host youth organisation considers to be good practice

Initial report‐ Content • The Initial Report is made 

up of an introduction and the following six chapters;

• Youth Engagement• Education and Counselling• Values and Principles• Governance and policy 

networking • Administration • Best practices

Templates provided

INTRODUCTION YOUTH ORGANISATION

CATEGORY/HEADING CONTENT/INDICATORS

Origins Briefly describe the origins/evolution of the organisation and some of its historicachievements

Focus Briefly describe what the organisation wants to achieve in the next few years.If you have targets or strategic plans please share these.Briefly describe the migrant youth you serve and want to serve.Describe which of the themes you wish the peers to look most closely at and those thatyou wish them to look at with a light touch.

Financial Resources Briefly describe the financial budgets that are available including details of funds raisedlocally, raised regionally and those from National and EU sources.

Human Resources Briefly describe the human resources that you have –staff, volunteers etc.

Other resources Briefly describe any other resources you have ( buildings etc.)

Location Briefly describe the location and premises of the Youth Organisation (where in the cityis it located, description of the neighbourhood/surroundings, how can it be reached;type of building, offices for staff, rooms for activities etc.).

Process Describe the process used by the Hosts in preparing the Initial Report. Describe thestakeholders and actors involved in its preparation and editing.

Issues Briefly describe what you believe to be the key issues for your organisation.

Context e.g. the country’s immigration profile/history, public discourse on immigration,integration; authorities in charge of integration, youth work; relevant umbrellaorganisations and their role; cooperation/exchange fora

The desk review of the initial report looks for differences and gaps between the activities of the host organisation and the 

standard model……

Outcome from the desk review

1. Assessment  …..possible gaps.. possible best practices 

2. Questions………3. Hypothesis………4. Lists of stakeholders to 

meet…….5. Lists of things to see……..

Peer Review Visit

Hypotheses testing through…… • Observing…..• Semi‐structured interviews/workshops

Discerning• Opinions or facts?• Commitment or dreams?

Visit programme Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

TIME MONDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 08.00- 9.00

Travel to host city

breakfast breakfast

09.00-10.00 Interview Interview Interview Interview Interview Interview

10.00-11.00 Interview Interview Interview Interview Interview Interview

11.00-12.00 Interview Interview Interview Interview Session 4 Team working on conclusions

12.00-13.00 Lunch and team get together Lunch Session 5 Lunch and informal feedback

13.00-14.00 Session 1 Meet the city coordinator Confirm the programme

interview interview

Return travel

14.00-15.00 Session 2 Introduction to the Host partner

interview interview

15.00-16.00 Session 3 Allocation of peers to interviews and workshops, preparation of questions

interview interview

16.00 – 17.00 Workshop 1 with external stakeholders

Workshop 2 with external stakeholders

Workshop 3 with external stakeholders

Workshops 4 with external stakeholders

17.00-18.00 Workshops 5 with external stakeholders

Workshops 6 with external stakeholders

19.00- Team dinner Team dinner

Meetings, interviews, workshopswith stakeholders

Internal stakeholdersStaffVolunteersMembers of the governing bodyMigrant youth (female/male)

External stakeholders School teachersLocal and national government politicians and officersRepresentatives from other youth organisationsRepresentatives from ‘umbrella’ organisation (of youth 

organisations and of migrant organisations)Parents and local peopleRepresentatives from Asylum and refugee organisationsRepresentatives from Faith based representativesRepresentatives from Training providers, Universities and CollegesRepresentatives from Employers and their representativesFirst generation migrantsSecond generation migrantsAsylum seekersRepresentatives of unaccompanied minorsMigrants from specific ethnic backgroundsMigrants from specific geographical areasMigrants without legal status Migrant associations

Hypothesis  

Hypothesis + Questions +Answer = Evidence 

Remember we are testing the hypothesis from the desk review

This testing relies on understanding and comparing the evidence of the performance of the host organisation with the standard model.

Evidence.........• What” is happening or not 

happening, • “Where” the event is taking place, 

e.g. name of the department, office, institution, etc

• “When” the event is taking place event e.g. current financial year, every year, last year.  

• “Why” the event is not taking place e.g. lack of time, political commitment, financial resources etc

• “How” the event happens. E.g. through personal meetings, initiative of individual, agenda on working group etc.

Professional judgement.......Critical friends 

Peers are the expertsWhat direction do you think the organisation needs to take?

What changes do you recommend for the host organisations?

What training do you think is needed?

Critical friends…… what to say?b Youth members 

are involved in the design and delivery of the weekend  drop in sessions

B   The strategic plan for engagement has been prepared in partnership with parents 

a   Youth members are not involved in the  design and delivery of the telephone help line 

a   The strategic plan was prepared without the involvement of many of the stakeholders

What do you see?

Did you see this!

Peers feedback…….  

• At the end of the visit a presentation of informal feedback of most important messages  

• Detailed report later

“Do not seek praise, seek criticism”“Give away everything you know and more will come back to you”“If everything is under control, you’re not going fast enough”

Thank you

• Interested in using Peer Review ?• Visit www.ethicalpartnership.co.uk• e: allen@ethicalpartnership.co.uk• t: 00 44 7845 709 600