North West Association North West Association of Development of Development OrganisationsOrganisations

Participatory Strategic Planning Participatory Strategic Planning SessionSession

26-28 March 200826-28 March 2008

Presbyterian Youth Centre, Presbyterian Youth Centre, BamendaBamenda

AgendaAgenda

Day OneDay One Day TwoDay Two

Session 1: Session 1:

VisionVisionSession 2: Session 2:

ContradictionsContradictionsSession 3:Session 3:

Strategic Strategic DirectionsDirections

Session 4: Session 4: ImplementationImplementation

IntroductionsIntroductions The Knot exerciseThe Knot exercise Intro to Strategic Intro to Strategic ThinkingThinking

One year One year MilestonesMilestones

Overview, Focus Overview, Focus QuestionQuestion

Contradictions Contradictions ExplanationExplanation

Strategic Strategic Directions Directions WorkshopWorkshop

90 Day Plans90 Day Plans

Vision WorkshopVision Workshop Contradictions Contradictions WorkshopWorkshop

ReflectionReflection Reports & Next Reports & Next StepsSteps

ReflectionReflection ReflectionReflection Strategic Strategic Directions DramaDirections Drama

Reflection and Reflection and EvaluationEvaluation

IntroductionsIntroductions

►NameName►OrganisationOrganisation►One wish you have for the future of One wish you have for the future of

the North West Provincethe North West Province

OverviewOverview

The Technology of The Technology of Participation (ToP)Participation (ToP)

Participatory Strategic Participatory Strategic PlanningPlanning

Practical Vision: the practical picture of

desired future

Strategic Directions: the actions

needed to deal with the contradictions and move

toward the vision

Implementation Plan: the one-year

milestones and 90 plan required to achieve the

strategic directions

CoreContradictions: the underlying obstacles or

issues preventing realisation of the vision

Workshop Method FlowWorkshop Method Flow

Context

Brainstorm

Organise

Name Reflect

Draft Mission StatementDraft Mission Statement

NWADO is a network of development NWADO is a network of development organisations coming together to build organisations coming together to build capacities, share information and capacities, share information and experiences, mobilise resources and experiences, mobilise resources and advocate on behalf of the civil society advocate on behalf of the civil society of the North West Province. of the North West Province.

Vision WorkshopVision Workshop

Focus QuestionFocus Question

In the next 5 years, how can NWADO In the next 5 years, how can NWADO most efficiently and effectively:most efficiently and effectively:

build capacities, build capacities, support sharing of information & support sharing of information &

experiences, experiences, advocate, and advocate, and mobilise resources mobilise resources

on behalf of its members?on behalf of its members?

ProcessProcess

►Brainstorm:Brainstorm: Individual brainstorming: each person lists Individual brainstorming: each person lists

concrete elements of the vision that you concrete elements of the vision that you can see completed within the next 5 can see completed within the next 5 years. Select your 3-4 clearest ideas.years. Select your 3-4 clearest ideas.

Meet in small groups: share ideas & write Meet in small groups: share ideas & write each on cards (3-8 words).each on cards (3-8 words).

Collect cards as whole group.Collect cards as whole group.

Process, continuedProcess, continued

►Organise:Organise: Form pairs based on similar Form pairs based on similar

accomplishments.accomplishments. Discern the focus of each groupDiscern the focus of each group

►Name:Name: Name the accomplishment we will see in 5 Name the accomplishment we will see in 5

years for each cluster (3-5 words)years for each cluster (3-5 words)

►ReflectReflect

VisionVision

►A vision tells the world who the A vision tells the world who the organisation isorganisation is

►A vision channels our values into the A vision channels our values into the work environmentwork environment

►A vision statement is an expression of A vision statement is an expression of optimism and hopeoptimism and hope

►Each of us carries within us a piece of Each of us carries within us a piece of the puzzle, all are needed to create the puzzle, all are needed to create our shared vision.our shared vision.

Focus QuestionFocus Question

In the next 5 years, how can NWADO In the next 5 years, how can NWADO most efficiently and effectively:most efficiently and effectively:

build capacities, build capacities, support sharing of information & support sharing of information &

experiences, experiences, advocate, and advocate, and mobilise resources mobilise resources

on behalf of its members?on behalf of its members?

ImagineImagine

It is 2013. A documentary film is being made about It is 2013. A documentary film is being made about NWADO and the civil society in the North West. You NWADO and the civil society in the North West. You are hosting the documentation team. You take are hosting the documentation team. You take them around to meet the actors:them around to meet the actors:►What stories are being told?What stories are being told?►What events are happening/have happened/will What events are happening/have happened/will happen?happen?►Who is involved?Who is involved?►How is NWADO organised?How is NWADO organised?►What does the office look like?What does the office look like?►Who/how many staff are there? What are they Who/how many staff are there? What are they doing?doing?

Contradictions Contradictions WorkshopWorkshop

The Knot exerciseThe Knot exercise

Knot exercise reflectionKnot exercise reflection

►What were our instructions?What were our instructions?►What did we do?What did we do?►How did you feel all tangled up?How did you feel all tangled up?►How did your experience shift as time How did your experience shift as time

went on?went on?►How is this related to participation?How is this related to participation?►Where would you like to use this Where would you like to use this

exercise?exercise?

What is blocking us from What is blocking us from moving towards our moving towards our

vision?vision?

Contradictions ProcessContradictions Process

►Brainstorm:Brainstorm: Individual: list 8-10 obstacles that block us Individual: list 8-10 obstacles that block us

from our vision. At least one block for from our vision. At least one block for each vision column. Focus on blocks that each vision column. Focus on blocks that are in our sphere of influence.are in our sphere of influence.

Small Groups: Share ideas and create Small Groups: Share ideas and create cards for each (3-8 words). Remember to cards for each (3-8 words). Remember to write BIG.write BIG.

Collect cards as group.Collect cards as group.

Process, continuedProcess, continued

►Organise:Organise: Create clusters based on common root causes.Create clusters based on common root causes. Discern the contradiction arenaDiscern the contradiction arena

►Name:Name: Discuss clusters for clarity & insightsDiscuss clusters for clarity & insights Name each cluster (3-5 words, adj., adj., noun)Name each cluster (3-5 words, adj., adj., noun)

►ReflectReflect

ContradictionsContradictions

►Blocks or barriers that prevent us from Blocks or barriers that prevent us from realising our visionrealising our vision

►Not a “lack of” but something in the wayNot a “lack of” but something in the way►Not abstract or theoretical but Not abstract or theoretical but

something real in society – a prevailing something real in society – a prevailing attitude, common behavior, national or attitude, common behavior, national or global trendglobal trend

►Not always easily recognised or obviousNot always easily recognised or obvious

What are the issues and What are the issues and obstacles that block our obstacles that block our

progress toward our progress toward our shared vision?shared vision?

Strategic Directions Strategic Directions WorkshopWorkshop

Intro: Strategic ThinkingIntro: Strategic Thinking

►““Down Board” thinking: they say a Down Board” thinking: they say a champion chess player can think 7 champion chess player can think 7 moves down the boardmoves down the board

►Catalytic actions: what will catalyse Catalytic actions: what will catalyse other actions?other actions?

What creative and innovative 2-What creative and innovative 2-3 year actions will overcome 3 year actions will overcome

these blocks and move us these blocks and move us toward our vision?toward our vision?

Strategic Directions ProcessStrategic Directions Process

►Brainstorm:Brainstorm: Individual: actions that will overcome Individual: actions that will overcome

blocks, at least 1 action per obstacle. blocks, at least 1 action per obstacle. Select your key actions.Select your key actions.

Small Groups: Share & write on cards. Small Groups: Share & write on cards. Include both radical actions and more Include both radical actions and more conservative actions.conservative actions.

Collect as group.Collect as group.

Process, continuedProcess, continued

►Organise:Organise: Form pairs based on actions with similar Form pairs based on actions with similar

intentsintents Identify activity of each clusterIdentify activity of each cluster

►Name:Name: Discern strategic direction: locate clusters that Discern strategic direction: locate clusters that

together form a common directiontogether form a common direction Name the strategic direction (3-5 words, “ing”)Name the strategic direction (3-5 words, “ing”)

►ReflectReflect

Strategic DirectionsStrategic Directions

►Broad directions for action that will Broad directions for action that will overcome the obstacles and move us overcome the obstacles and move us toward our vision.toward our vision.

►A program or a course of action.A program or a course of action.►What will make the difference? What What will make the difference? What

will have an impact?will have an impact?►Not just a good idea unrelated to Not just a good idea unrelated to

blocks or vision.blocks or vision.

What creative and innovative 2-What creative and innovative 2-3 year actions will overcome 3 year actions will overcome

these blocks and move us these blocks and move us toward our vision?toward our vision?

DramatizationDramatization

►Three groups, one for each strategic Three groups, one for each strategic direction (self select)direction (self select)

►Create a dramatic presentation about Create a dramatic presentation about your strategic direction. your strategic direction. Drama, poem, story, song, commercialDrama, poem, story, song, commercial 12 minutes to prepare, 5 minutes to 12 minutes to prepare, 5 minutes to

presentpresent

►Presentations after lunchPresentations after lunch

Implementation Implementation WorkshopWorkshop

What do we intend to do What do we intend to do over the next 12 months?over the next 12 months?

Implementation ProcessImplementation Process

►One year milestones:One year milestones: Teams (by strategic direction): brainstorm Teams (by strategic direction): brainstorm

events or projects to implement Strategic events or projects to implement Strategic Direction (next 12 mos.)Direction (next 12 mos.)

Select 8 key, distinct milestones: Put Select 8 key, distinct milestones: Put these on cards, place 2 in each quarter.these on cards, place 2 in each quarter.

Reports: One person from each team Reports: One person from each team report on their milestones.report on their milestones.

ReflectReflect

Process, continuedProcess, continued

►90 day implementation steps90 day implementation steps Teams: review Quarter 1 milestones:Teams: review Quarter 1 milestones:

►How will we do this?How will we do this?►Who will do it?Who will do it?►When? Where?When? Where?►What will it cost? Source of funding?What will it cost? Source of funding?

Complete 90 day implementation plan for Complete 90 day implementation plan for each Quarter 1 milestone.each Quarter 1 milestone.

Report: one person from each team reportReport: one person from each team report►ReflectReflect

ImplementationImplementation

►Set of actions that will initiate Set of actions that will initiate NWADO’s movement from where we NWADO’s movement from where we are now to where we want to be.are now to where we want to be.

►Action, who, where, when, howAction, who, where, when, how►Specific, measurable, time-limitedSpecific, measurable, time-limited►Our commitmentOur commitment

What do we intend to do What do we intend to do over the next 12 months?over the next 12 months?