Module 2: Ideas Boxes
Practical tips, tools and methods for the work of NGOs and adult education providers
Building Partnerships and Trust
Building Partnerships and Trust
The objective here is to gain a deep understanding of your community’s stakeholders to build trust and create partnerships.
Step 1
Types of tools
*Community Surveys (in google forms, survey monkey or other online forms or print if necessary)
*Invitations either by email or phone call (more personal) or a combination of the two
Used methodology
Create and distribute surveys to community members to gather information on their needs, interests, and concerns.
Focus Groups: Organize small group discussions with community members to encourage open dialogue and feedback.
Community Asset Mapping: Identify existing community resources, organizations, and potential collaborators.
Practical Tips & Strategies
Ensure your outreach materials are culturally sensitive and available in multiple languages if needed.
Engage community leaders and influencers to help facilitate discussions and gain trust.
Be open to feedback, actively listen, and be willing to adapt your approach based on community input.
Empower community members to take ownership of the process and decisions.
Checklist
- Create a list of community leaders and influencers.
- Develop culturally sensitive survey questions.
- Schedule focus group sessions and community meetings.
- Start mapping existing community resources.
- Establish clear goals for community engagement.
Step 2
Types of tools
Online platforms, social media
Used methodology
Networking Events: Attend local events, meetings, and conferences to connect with potential partners.
Online Platforms: Utilize social media, community forums, and online platforms to reach out to organizations and individuals.
Collaboration Workshops: Organize workshops to discuss potential projects and partnerships with interested parties.
Community Meetings: Host regular community meetings to update and engage partners.
Practical Tips & Strategies
Establish a clear mission statement and objectives for potential partnerships.
Seek partners that complement your organization's strengths and can address community needs.
Explore funding opportunities together to support collaborative efforts.
Foster open communication and transparency in all interactions.
Checklist
- Create a list of potential partners and their contact information.
- Develop a pitch for potential partners outlining your goals and how they can contribute.
- Identify potential funding sources for collaborative projects.
- Host a collaboration workshop to discuss ideas and expectations.
Step 3
Types of tools
Evaluation questions and/or forms to send out during and after initiatives
Used methodology
Regular Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with partners and community members.
Collaborative Initiatives: Implement joint projects that address community needs.
Feedback Mechanisms: Establish mechanisms for collecting feedback and evaluating the success of initiatives.
Recognition and Celebration: Acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of partners and community members.
Practical Tips & Strategies
Be patient and invest time in relationship-building.
Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations in partnership agreements.
Continuously evaluate and adapt your approach based on feedback.
Highlight the positive impact of your collaborative efforts within the communit
Checklist
- Schedule regular meetings and check-ins with partners.
- Monitor and evaluate collaborative initiatives' progress.
- Gather feedback from community members and partners.
- Recognize and celebrate collaborative successes.
Co-Creation and User-Centered Design in Practice
Co-Creation and User-Centered Design in Practice
The objective here is to build partnerships through co-creation and collaboration
Step 1
Types of tools
Interview questions customized to the context of the communities where organizations are involved
Empathy Mapping
Used methodology
User Interviews: Conduct one-on-one interviews with community members to understand their specific needs and goals.
Create empathy maps to visualize the experiences and emotions of users.
Practical Tips & Strategies
Ensure that your approach is culturally sensitive and respectful of diverse perspectives.
Engage community leaders and local influencers to facilitate connections and build trust.
Listen actively, ask open-ended questions, and encourage participants to share their personal stories.
Maintain confidentiality and privacy when dealing with sensitive information
Checklist
- Develop interview and discussion guides.
- Create empathy maps for key user personas.
Step 2
Types of tools
Create online boards or have paper rolls to use as idea boards
Sticky-notes pencils
Used methodology
Co-Creation Workshops: Host interactive workshops with community members and partners to brainstorm ideas.
Idea Boards: Create visual idea boards to display and prioritize concepts.
Prototyping: Develop simple prototypes or mock-ups to illustrate potential solutions.
Storytelling: Encourage participants to share their own experiences and stories for inspiration
Practical Tips & Strategies
Promote inclusivity and equal participation among all stakeholders.
Use creative, non-technical language to ensure ideas are accessible to everyone.
Consider affordability and scalability when evaluating potential solutions.
Foster an environment where all participants feel valued and heard.
Checklist
- Schedule co-creation workshops with community members and partners.
- Prepare materials for ideation and prototyping.
- Encourage storytelling and idea sharing.
- Prioritize and document the most promising solutions.
Step 3
Types of tools
*A prototype varies depending on your idea of a project/initiative. You might just need a word document/ppt with graphs and tables or an arts &crafts prototype or whatever it is you want to create.
Used methodology
Co-Creation Workshops: Host interactive workshops with community members and partners to brainstorm ideas.
Idea Boards: Create visual idea boards to display and prioritize concepts.
Prototyping: Develop simple prototypes or mock-ups to illustrate potential solutions.
Storytelling: Encourage participants to share their own experiences and stories for inspiration
Practical Tips & Strategies
Promote inclusivity and equal participation among all stakeholders.
Use creative, non-technical language to ensure ideas are accessible to everyone.
Consider affordability and scalability when evaluating potential solutions.
Foster an environment where all participants feel valued and heard.
Checklist
- Finalize partnership agreements with clear terms.
- Develop low-fidelity prototypes.
- Organize user testing sessions and collect feedback.
- Iterate on prototypes based on user feedback.