Appendix A: Skills for development facilitators

SKILLS FOR DEVELOPMENT FACILITATORS

I. Taking Preparatory Steps

In the preliminary stage of collaboration with a community or other group of people, the facilitator should:

A. Understand and be able to articulate his or her:

1. Motivation
2. Expectations of the experience
3. Strengths and weaknesses
4. Role as a facilitator
5. Individual values

B. Be sensitive to and able to identify:

1. Expectations of the local community or other group
2. Local culture and resources, including customs, values, knowledge and ways of life

C. Communicate in ways that demonstrate:

1. Active listening and observation skills
2. An ability to filter information
3. Skill in working cooperatively and in collaboration with others
4. An understanding of the participatory approach to development
5. An ability to synthesize and articulate information in ways that promote local selfreliance, integrity and well-being

D. Utilize appropriate on-going techniques for evaluating the preliminary stages of involvement

II. Establishing a Dialogue

In the next stage of involvement, the facilitator should:

A. Demonstrate skills in facilitation ant organization that include:

1. An ability to work with existing local social structures and groups
2. Stimulating active local participation
3. Motivating others to contribute their skills and knowledge
4. Planning and facilitating meetings, when appropriate
5. Sharing techniques for effective problem solving, team building and negotiating

B. Be able to examine, analyze and prioritize issues, concerns and needs within the local context

C. Understand and be able to articulate development issues in relation to local problems and strategies for change

D. Continue to develop skills in interpersonal communication, including:

1. Encouragement of local leadership, when appropriate
2. Building trust and confidence
3. Consultation (e.g., active listening, conferring and feedback)

E. Use on-going and appropriate techniques to evaluate the use of dialogue in community work

III. Planning with the Community

In planning for active community participation, the facilitator should:

A. Collaborate with the local community or group to identify:

1. Needs
2. Resources
3. Goals and objectives
4. Potential problems or limiting factors

B. Assist in the establishment of:

1. Project criteria
2. Plan of action
3. Methods of project documentation
4. Relationships with appropriate organizations and agencies to form a supportive network

C. Articulate the manner and extent of his or her involve ment of the development process

D. Use on-going evaluation methods to review the planning stage -

IV. Using the Dialogue Approach

Throughout the stages of community involvement, the facilitator should:

A. Demonstrate an understanding of non-formal education through the use of:

1. A variety of communication techniques
2. Problem-solving activities
3. Methods that motivate others to actively participate in the education process

IV. B. Stimulate project implementation through the use of local skills, knowledge and resources during:

1. Development and/or construction
2. Adaptation and modification
3. Utilization
4. Project review

C. Use on-going methods of evaluation to ensure that project implementation is consistent with the participatory approach to development

V. Evaluating the Process

In order to learn from, and improve upon the experience of working with a community or other group, the facilitator should:

A. Collaborate in the establishment and use of appropriate evaluation criteria and techniques.

B. Use a continuing process of evaluation to:

1. Review the level of local participation
2. Review methods-and approaches used during development work
3. Assess the level of local self-reliance and well-being
4. Analyze each phase of development work
5. Generalize and apply the knowledge gained to improve the participatory approach to development.