Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care - ICRW

10 Steps <strong>for</strong> Participatory Facilitation
1. BE WELL PREPARED
Plan each of the sessions be<strong>for</strong>e the workshop.
Practice how to conduct the sessions in the local language.
Assign tasks within the team, giving each person a clear task.
Bring all materials – manual, handouts, flipchart paper, markers, cards, etc.
Arrive early so you are ready to welcome participants when they arrive.
Be flexible – leave room in your planning to make changes.
2. PREPARE THE ROOM
Remove tables to make room <strong>for</strong> activities and make the workshop more in<strong>for</strong>mal.
Set up chairs in a semi-circle and ensure that participants will be able to see each other and the
flipchart.
Put flipchart sheets on the front wall.
Set up a separate table <strong>for</strong> markers, tape, handouts and other supplies.
3. MAKE PARTICIPANTS FEEL COMFORTABLE
Welcome everyone when they arrive.
Break the ice and make everyone feel com<strong>for</strong>table at the start of the workshop.
Learn participants’ names. Use games, songs or divide into smaller groups to develop rapport.
Respond to participants’ expectations and set ground rules.
4. ASK QUESTIONS AND LEAD DISCUSSION
Ask clear, simple and open questions that allow people to give their opinions.
Solicit contributions – use your hands and body to encourage participants.
Wait <strong>for</strong> responses. Give people time to think and come up with an answer.
Encourage everyone to talk. Buzz groups (where you divide participants into groups of three to
five people to discuss a topic and then regroup to discuss) are effective; or have participants sit
in a circle and ask each person to say something.
Equalize participation – draw out the silent and control the talkative.
Don’t be satisfied with the first response or one answer. Keep asking more questions: “What
do others think? Who would like to add to that?”
Be a good listener. Show that you are listening and interested in what people say.
Praise responses to encourage participation.
Rephrase responses to check that you and other participants understand.
Redirect to involve others: “She said…. What do others think?”
Keep the focus. If the discussion goes off track, restate the objective or question.
Summarize and check agreement be<strong>for</strong>e moving to the next question/topic.
Chapter D: Tips <strong>for</strong> Running Participatory Workshops 71