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Toolbox home References 6 short descriptions

Processes of collaborative learning and sharing multiple perspectives, all depend on the quality of the relationships between the individuals in the system. People need to be supported to be able to engage, especially if they are unfamiliar with participating in such exercises. Without this, the level of the interaction will be reduced. The role of the facilitator becomes important here as someone who can, from a neutral position (or accepted non neutral position), encourage and support processes of engagement and dialogue.Good facilitation can significantly add to effectiveness of the process, the quality of the engagement and learning that takes place and how much ownership over the outcomes is developed. Well facilitated processes build capacity with the stakeholders and in the communities where the work is taking place to respond effectively to change in the future. Often the subtle skills of good process facilitators are significantly undervalued. A process that is poorly facilitated and managed runs the risk of developing a poor connection to the communities and groups it is working with, potentially leading to anger and mistrust and damaging the potential for future collaboration. The effect and legacy of any adaptation interventions is likely to be limited and short term if people feel that they have not been treated well in the process and their voices have not been heard.

The resources presented here are examples of toolkits and guidance on facilitation and the skills needed to do this well.

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Exemplary methods and tools

Name	Description	References
Facilitation Toolkit: A practical guide for working more effectively with people and groups	A clear and comprehensive guide to facilitation written by Colma Keating for the Department of Environmental Protection, Water and Rivers Commission, Department of Conservation and Land Management. Offers guidance on facilitation processes and techniques, tips for adding value, working with difficult situations and people and practical checklists.	http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=1739&Ite...
Facilitation Skills for Interpersonal Transformation	A guide to transformative skills for moment by moment interactions, transformative techniques and transformative process design	http://www.berghof-handbook.net/documents/publications/kraybill_handbook.pdf
Participatory Approaches: A facilitator’s guide	This book provides a set of guidelines for people who will be involved in participatory processes to answers questions such as: what level of participation is appropriate, what problems exist, tips for facilitation participatory approaches. It provides a framework (divided in to: Principles, Methods and Tools) for common understanding, advice on good facilitation, and a set of tools and activities that may help to facilitate dialogue, identify blocks and reveal appropriate development initiatives	http://community.eldis.org/.59c6ec19/VSO_Facilitator_Guide_to_Participatory_Approaches_Principles.pdf
Facilitating learning and change in groups and group sessions	An introduction to the theory and practice of the facilitators role in supporting processes of change in groups	http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-facil.htm
The Barefoot Guide to working with Organisations and Social Change	This practical guide was developed by the Barefoot Collective for leaders and facilitators wanting to help organisations to function and develop in more healthy, human and effective way. The guide, and the supporting website, introduces concepts of organisational change, stories of managing change and participatory exercises to support the practice of anyone working with organisations and social movements. It is aimed at leaders and facilitators of civil society organisations, but it has a much wider application to anyone managing processes of engaging people around an issue or collaboration in a project. It is currrently available in English and Bahasa Indonesia	http://www.barefootguide.org/
The Barefoot Guide to Learning Practices in Organisations and Social Change	The Barefoot Guide to Learning Practices in Organisations and Social Change is a free, downloadable and practical resource for leaders, facilitators and practitioners involved in social change who want to improve and enrich their learning processes. This guide is the joint effort of a group of development practitioners from across the globe to help them (and inspire others) to start, and continue, the journey towards learning and social change. It includes topics on community mobilising and development, adult learning, funding, evaluation, facilitation, and creative writing. There is an emphasis on using accessible language and avoiding ‘development speak’. There is also a Companion Booklet with practical ideas and tips for designing and facilitating good learning processes. Any new resources will be posted in the Resource Centre.	http://www.barefootguide.org/