Module 1: Ideas boxes
Practical tips, tools and methods for the work of NGOs and adult education providers.
This activity is designed for NGOs
This activity is designed for NGOs and adult education providers that work in the education sector using non-formal education. Indeed, it allows trainees to grasp one of the central concepts of sustainable development: the interdependence of economic, social, and environmental issues. Solutions are sustainable when they balance all these areas and provide win-win outcomes.
Workshop “What makes a community sustainable?”
Workshop “What makes a community sustainable?”
Step 1
Types of tools
Research
Methodology
Collection of a case study
Tips & Strategies
Link for some examples: https://aaec.vt.edu/content/dam/aaec_vt_edu/extension/cee/files/communities.pdf
Checklist
Conduct research on the topic of sustainable communities.
Find one or more best practices.
Step 2
Methodology
Non-formal education
Tips & Strategies
If the participants have doubts, clarify the case before the discussion.
Checklist
Give a case study to the participants.
Read it all together or in small groups.
Step 3
Types of tools
Develop appropriate questions to guide the discussion.
Methodology
Debate
Tips & Strategies
Set some rules for the group discussion.
Create a safe environment for everyone.
Checklist
After the participants have read the piece, facilitate a discussion highlighting the ways the case study illustrates “win-win” solutions to various issues.
Guide the discussion asking key questions.
Mutual benefits and areas of cooperation
Mutual benefits and areas of cooperation
For a partnership to be successful, it is essential that everyone is able to work cooperatively with each other. The following tool could be used to solve a conflict that may affect the partnership or to discuss new ideas or face some challenges.
Cooperative Learning Strategy
Cooperative Learning Strategy
Step 1
Types of tools
Teamwork
Methodology
This strategy involves groups of 3-5 (one or more representatives for each organisation) discussing a specific topic (i.e. a challenge, a new idea, etc.).
Tips & Strategies
The topic of the discussion should be available to every participant before organizing the activity.
The proposition can be a current challenge for the partnership or a new idea.
Checklist
A paper with the topic written on it goes around to everyone in the group.
Step 2
Methodology
The participants have the possibility to use transversal skills such as critical thinking, creativity and clarity.
Tips & Strategies
The comments should be clear and precise.
Checklist
Each member writes a comment before passing on the paper and this process is repeated so that everyone gets to read what the other writes.
Step 3
Methodology
Debriefing phase
Tips & Strategies
The facilitator should be neutral regarding the topic discussed.
Checklist
The comments are discussed among the group with the guide of a facilitator.
Each participant is forced to debate by justifying his/her comment.
Strategies for cooperation
Strategies for cooperation
Evaluation of the impact of the partnership
Step 1
Types of tools
Meetings
Debate
Tips & Strategies
It can be helpful for partners to complete a problem tree. This tool can help to understand the central problem, its causes and effects. See the video as a guideline for the development of a problem tree:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j-_Y7D35H4
Checklist
Here are some suggested questions to identify the outcomes:
What needs are you working together to address?
What difference do you think you can make to people through your partnership activities?
Step 2
Types of tools
Set indicators, be specific, observable and measurable characteristics that can be used to show changes or progress a programme is making toward achieving a specific outcome.
Methodology
Example of sections of a grid for the evaluation of each outcome:
INDICATORS
METHODS
WHO WILL DO IT
Tips & Strategies
Indicators should be:
Representative of what happens for the service users.
Simple and specific
measured more than once.
Concerning the information that must be collected, it is important to be clear about who is responsible for collecting what information. Indeed, different partners might collect different information, depending on their role and the activity they are delivering through the partnership.
Checklist
Set up the indicators.
Collect the data.
Analyze the data.
Set up a strategy to achieve the outcomes (if the outcome has not been reached yet).
Step 3
Types of tools
Questions
Methodology
Partners may openly share the information they have collected in order to analyze it.
Tips & Strategies
It is helpful to have more than one person involved in analyzing information because each person brings a different perspective.
Checklist
Useful questions to guide the evaluation:
- Did each partner deliver the activity they committed to?
- Did each partner achieve the expected outcomes?
- Did each partner benefit from the partnership? What kind of benefit did they receive?
Step 4
Types of tools
Questions
Tips & Strategies
Set up a strategy to assimilate the lessons learned.
Checklist
Here are some fruitful questions that should help the partnership in the process:
- What worked well and why?
- What could have been better?
- What has helped us achieve the goal?
- What has hindered us?
- What needs to change about what we do or how we do it?
- Did working together help achieve outcomes for the client group?
- Did we achieve outcomes for the beneficiaries that we could not have achieved alone?
The Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls. Indicators. Retrieved 31st of January 2023.
The Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls. Indicators. Retrieved 31st of January 2023. https://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/336-indicators.html#:~:text=What%20are%20indicators%3F,be%20focused%2C%20clear%20and%20specific.