A limited number of fellowships are available from the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. NFP-candidates must FIRST apply to Wageningen International for admission to the training. The deadline for application with NFP is 1 February 2008. Acceptable candidates will receive a PROVISIONAL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE from Wageningen International. Candidates can then apply for a NFP fellowship through the Netherlands Embassy or Consulate in their own country. The admission deadline for application directly to Wageningen International, with funding other than a NFP fellowship, is 8 August 2008. Early application is recommended . Form Here
Complex problems require innovative solutions. Such solutions are created when diverse stakeholders are able to meet, share experiences, learn together and contribute to decisions. Ultimate success then lies in developing the collective commitment and capacity to turn ideas and plans into action. This can be achieved through multi-stakeholder processes (MSPs) and social learning.
The course covers state-of-the-art thinking about participation from local to global level and introduces the most up-to-date methodologies and approaches for facilitation and participation. How MSPs and social learning relate to concepts such as dialogue, interactive policy making and adaptive management is fully explored.
Typically MSPs involve business people, policy makers, community representatives, NGOs, politicians, researchers and educators from different scales, sectors and disciplines. The degree and nature of their participation and interaction will vary and needs to be carefully negotiated, planned and facilitated. This leads to questions about governance and democratic participation, which have become important topics on the global agenda as we work towards making sustainable development a reality. The course will explore these topics and examine the practical implications.
Multiple stakeholder and social learning processes are, for example, applicable, to: integrated rural development initiatives; river basin management; market chain management; development of poverty reduction strategies; interdisciplinary research programmes; food security initiatives; livelihood development; sector wide approaches; interactive policy making; decentralisation programmes; and community-based natural resource management (forestry, fisheries, wetlands).
Aims and objectives
To provide you with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills for designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder and social learning processes, you will:
- Examine different types of multi-stakeholder processes
- Explore the linkages between MSPs and social change, good governance, participatory democracy and social learning
- Learn about and practice a broad range of participatory methodologies and tools necessary for designing an interactive learning process
- Assess the implications of up scaling participation with more diverse groups and greater complexity
- Discover how to design and plan an extended MSP
- Analyse the types of institutional change and support necessary for effective MSPs
- Be challenged to assess the impact of your values and personal style on your competence as a facilitator.
Training methods
The course is highly interactive. Participants will have active discussions, work on group assignments, engage in role-plays and undertake fieldwork. They will experience facilitating a wide range of methodologies and tools. The course facilitators follow a flexible programme that allows adaptation to the specific needs of individuals and the group. For more information, contact Simone.vanVugt@wur.nl
Who can participate?
The course is designed for people who already have a basic understanding of participation, some facilitation experience and have had exposure to participatory methodologies such as Participatory Rural Appraisal or Participatory Learning and Action. Participants should be in a situation where they need to be managing or facilitating MSPs. The course is suitable for project and programme managers, policy makers, consultants, researchers, NGO staff, postgraduate students, community leaders and business managers.
Participants should meet the following requirements: relevant tertiary education; at least five years of professional experience preferably related to participation, facilitation and MSP; competence in the English language.
Programme
Week 1 Building blocks
- What is MSP – terminology
- Key concepts: participation, systems thinking, experiential learning
- Methodologies and tools
- Participants’ cases
- Outdoors
- Facilitation skills, group dynamics, learning styles
Week 2 Process Design and Institutionalising MSPs: Governance and Power
- Designing multi-stakeholder processes
- Methodologies & tools
- Theatre
- Dealing with power and conflict – skills training
- Creating supportive institutional environments for MSPs
- Social learning, risk society, participatory democracy
Week 3 Fieldwork: analysing and improving an existing MSP
- Open space on a cutting edge topic with internationally renowned keynote speaker
- Fieldwork
- Participants’ action plans
- Wageningen International reserves the right to change the programme.
Certificate
Participants are granted a Certificate of Attendance.
