Discussion with beneficiaries

Working group

Workshop

Objectives: Review the country strategy to adapt it to changes in the Central African and international contexts, and analyse some key elements of the operations model, ensuring ownership by the country team.

Work done: We updated the the analysis of the country context and the program theory of change. We organized the operational team into 20 working groups that were prepared with tools  to analyse the status of the diferents elements of the management model. The products of the working groups were taken to a three-day workshop where 35 people participated. The contributions of the workshop were integrated into the different intermediate products, and we finalised some complementary works in relation to the model of operational bases, funding, partnership and the MEAL system.

Results: New version of the country strategy and results framework. Tools  to facilitate the management of the mission and the annual monitoring and evaluation of sector strategies, approaches and support functions. Proposals to develop the MEAL system, the funding strategy, the model of operational bases and the capacity building of partners.

Date: July-September 2022

Initial workshop

Objectives: Conduct a participatory process to develop the Regional Operations Model that defines how the regional strategy should be implemented in West Africa, with what plan and with what resources.

Work done: We prepared a methodological proposal that included preliminary interviews with 12 people from the regional team, work in teams and two two-day workshops, one at the beginning and the other at the end, with 18 people from the regional team and the participation of an expert consultant in change management. We developed the structure of contents of the document to produce and we established 16 working groups to work on the different sections of the document. The groups addressed the following contents: regional programs and links with country programs (Food Justice, Equality, Humanitarian); regional management support functions in countries (finance, human resources, security, etc.); regional programmatic support functions (programmatic management, financing, MEAL, partnership, gender, influence, communication, thematic support, humanitarian). During the initial workshop the methodology was reviewed, the working groups were formed, the tools to be used were reviewed and questions were prepared to be answered by the countries and program directors of the affiliates. In parallel to this work, other contents of the document were developed: role of affiliates; regional structure; budget; genre; feasibility and risks; working mechanisms. During the final workshop, the groups' work was shared and key issues were discussed. Based on the results of the final workshop, a first draft of the document was prepared, which had several revisions until its finalization.

Results: Document with the Regional Operations Model with decisions for the structuring of the regional team and its operation.

Date: September-November 2016 

Objectives: Develop the risks management strategy as part of Plan International's Global Strategy.

Work done: design and facilitation of a 'writeshop' and a strategic planning workshop aimed at around 30 participants.

Results: development of a draft risk management strategy.

Date: May and June 2015 

Objectives: Define Oxfam's Strategic Planning in several countries.

Work done: A facilitation plan was conceived with participatory methodologies that allowed Oxfam's Strategic Planning to be defined in several countries. Workshops of several days were facilitated (in some cases several consecutive workshops) in which Oxfam affiliates, local Oxfam partner organizations and external experts participated.

Results: Based on the results of the workshops, 5-year strategic plans were defined in several countries or region. Finally, the Strategic Planning documents were drawn up.

Date: July 2014 to June 2015. 

Objectives: Lead the design process of the FVF 2014-1024 Strategic Planning.

Work done: A participatory process was conceived that consisted of 4 stages. The first was a workshop with the management team in which the internal and external context was analysed, the achievements and pending challenges were assessed and the major axes of future strategic planning were defined. The second consisted in reflecting on the lessons of the past in each of the work sectors, involving all departments. The third was to define future challenges by sector of intervention, as well as at internal level. Finally, the vision and mission were updated. More than 540 people participated in the entire process.

Results: Based on the results of these workshops, a Strategic Plan was drawn up.

Date: January-December 2014 

Tunisia

Power analysis

Morocco

Purpose: To facilitate the transition from national to regional programs for Oxfam in the Maghreb region

Work process: We developed a methodology consisting in conducting three workshops facilitated by baobab. In them we carried out a regional context analysis, we identified priority areas of work for Oxfam and chose to develop three regional programs. For each program we did a power analysis, we defined a theory of change and identified its change objectives and strategies.

Results: We defined the outline of three regional programs and helped team-building between the Oxfams working in the Maghreb.

Date: June 2012 to February 2013

South America

Purpose: To produce a regional strategy paper for Oxfam in South America

Work process: We used strategic documents provided by Oxfam (3 thematic strategies and papers stating its context analysis and vision) and consulted other regional sources to put together a draft a regional strategy paper.

Results: Paper stating Oxfam's positioning and areas of work in South America for the period 2012-2017.

Date: September – October 2011.

Evaluation flipchart

Purpose: To help Oxfam translate its strategic planning into an operational action plan.

Work process: We facilitated a workshop for about 20 people, with representatives of three members of the Oxfam confederation. Prior to the meeting the Oxfams validated the methodology and did some preparatory work. During the 4-day workshop we defined Oxfam's program objectives and strategies in Burkina Faso Oxfam.

Results: We were able to define the lines of work, local partners and geographical areas of intervention. Also the role and added value of Oxfam.

Date: June-July 2011.

Workshop energizer

Purpose: To conduct the development of Oxfam's Joint Regional Analysis and Strategy for West Africa.

Work process: We used a participative approach to develop a methodology for the facilitation of a workshop, which took place in Dakar in January 2011. 52 people representing 6 Oxfam affiliates and 19 of its partners and allies took place in the workshop.

Results: The workshop provided the necessary inputs to produce a draft Regional Strategy 2011-2014. This was later revised and finalised taking into account Oxfam's partners' inputs.

Date: June 2010 - March 2011

1st workshop. Directives

2nd workshop. Analysis of feedback

3rd workshop. VSF Global meeting

Purpose: To conduct a process to help develop VSF's 2011-2015 Strategic Plan.

Work process: We used a participative approach to develop a methodology consisting of three stages. Stage 1 was a workshop with VSF's Board and Executive Team to analyse their previous SP's achievements and to define the directives for the new SP. Stage 2 consisted in requesting feedback from all VSF instances to the suggested directives. These were put together, analysed and ways forward were debated in a second workshop. Finally, a set of new directives was presented in a Global VSF meeting for finalisation and validation. Over 150 people participated in the entire process.

Results: The Global meeting provided the necessary inputs to produce a draft Strategic Plan 2011-2015.

Date: April-December 2010

Workshop, day 1. Ouagadougou

Purpose: To revise and finalise Oxfam International's Strategic Plan in Burkina Faso.

Work process: We used a participative approach to develop a methodology for the conduction of the workshop, which took place in Ouagadougou in October. 18 people from 4 Oxfam affiliates (Intermon Oxfam, Oxfam in Belgium, Oxfam Quebec and Oxfam America) took place in the workshop.

Results: The workshop provided the necessary inputs to finalise Oxfam's Strategic Plan for 2011-2017.

Date: September - December 2010.

Workshop in Barcelona

Working group in Lleida

Facilitation in Girona

Objectives: To analyze awareness and development education (DE) activities and strategies in Catalonia, to produce a ground study which will serve as basis for the design of the DE strategy of the Government of Catalonia.

Work done: The work was done in collaboration with the organisation Edualter. A team of five experts was formed, including DE, advocacy and development experts. Extensive research was done on the international, Spanish and Catalan DE contexts. A comparative analysis of DE practice and legislation in different European countries was prepared. 100 people were interviewed, and 5 workshops with over 120 participants were conducted in all four catalan provinces. For each DE component we studied the catalan context to determine: typology of actors, capacities, areas of work, learning and best practices. Strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in each component were also described. Finally, priorities and potential strategic lines of work in DE in were identified.

Results: An extensive document was produced summarizing the above contents. It suggested a long-term strategic framework, priority areas and specific lines of work.

Dates: September 2009 to May 2010
 

Group work, Chad.

Group work, Mauritania.

Participants, N'Djamena.

Purpose: To design and conduct two workshops in which to define IO's 2009-2013 Strategic Plan in Chad and Mauritania.

Work process: We used a participative approach to develop a methodology for the conduction of both workshops. The first one took place in N'Djamena-Chad in June. 43 people from civil society organisations in Chad, IO partners and allies, took place in it. A second workshop took place in  October in Nouakchott-Mauritania. 34 people attended it, representatives of civil society organisations, donors and multilateral agencies.

Results: At the workshops the participants shared a context analysis of both Chad and Mauritania and defined which should be IO's strategic objectives for the next five years. They also agreed on the strategies to be put in place to help attain those objectives.

Date: March - October 2009.

Some participants

Purpose: To conceive and conduct the workshop.

Work process: We developed a workshop plan that would enable VSF's Directive Team to define its objectives for the coming year. During the workshop, which lasted half a day, we did a context analysis (internal and external) and some team building work. 6 people took part in it.

Results: The workshop helped VSF determine its institutional priorities for the year 2010.

Date: September 2009.

Bulgaria

Poland

Romania

Purpose: To establish a program framework for each one of these countries.

Work process: A context analysis of each country was carried out, paying special attention to the EU integration process and to the effects of transition from socialism to democratic capitalism. The main socioeconomic and political tendencies were identified and the roles of key actors -public and private, national and international- were studied. Once the most relevant needs were detected, we weighed them against our client's expertise and interests and put forward a program framework.
The work was carried out strictly through bibliographical and web review, as requested by our client.
Results: Various sectoral programs and partners were suggested, which would fit the client's profile and priorities in the region. We made presentations with the main conclusions and recommendations of all three studies.

Date: July, August and October 2007.