Visualization in Participatory Programs (VIPP) Training of Facilitator

Background on the International Facilitation Team
Dr. Timmi Tillman and Dr. Maria Angelica Salas represent the VIPP-Core Team and are experts   in applying Visualization in Participatory Programmes to international development programmes.  In Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America, they have used VIPP to build capacity in training and development (training of trainers), organization development, participatory research, monitoring and evaluation, indigenous knowledge systems and gender perspectives. They have written three VIPP  manuals building on lessons learned and best practices for facilitating dialogue and learning in an intercultural context.  As a VIPP associate, Barbara Whitney MS in Organization Development,    joined the VIPP network in 1995 and has applied the methodology to human resource development and capacity building programs in Asia, Africa and the United States.

Introduction to VIPP
Workshops and seminars for professional people are often formal affairs where participant are required to listen to speeches and power point presentations. Business meetings within projects or institutions or coordination meetings with technical advisors or stakeholders often resulting one or two-person shows, lengthy presentations of past activities, and details of information about forthcoming work plans. These inputs do not usually require very active involvement of participants and do not bring about exchange of experiences, nor do they engender creativity or synergy among participants.

The VIPP approach breaks down this "seminar culture" by employing facilitation - usually a team of trained facilitators who bring to the participants methods for the interactive generation of new ideas produced through transparent processes, which help participants reach consensus. Group work becomes creative and productive.  Technical advisors and managers often encounter resistance in the use of such methods in their own workplaces.  By having trained staff with the knowledge and skills to facilitate quality participation, the work environment enables staff to collaborate, coordinate and network effectively.  By this method, everyone takes part in the process of arriving at a consensus. Less talkative participants find a means of expression and those who might normally dominate a group lose control and are forced to let others have their say. By visualizing the group's main proceedings, repetition and circularity in argument are reduced. If there is a record of the group’s progress, visible to everyone, it is easier to point out such repetition.

VIPP has been created 20 years ago in Germany and in Bangladesh, evolving a learner Centered approach from different sources: people’s education in Latin America (1970), action research by Kurt Lewin in the USA (1950), Metaplan as a creative planning tool using cards of all shapes and colours in Germany (1970), TPA at the German Foundation for Development in Feldafing (1980) – all of these practices involved the minds and hearts of people in the creation of new ideas, in the planning of development action and in fulfilling the principles of authentic
participation.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.southbound.com. My/VIPP

Course Description
VIPP is relevant to a diverse range of jobs and sectors in the INGO and NGO community. Trainers  and training coordinators who design TOTs, develop curriculum  or organize  conferences and facilitate  training; facilitators who oversee workshops and community meetings; communication specialists who are responsible for BBC and IEC programs as well as capacity building officers who are managing human resource planning and business development. VIPP has been used in planning and revising projects, communication materials development and storyline planning, putting research into action, community level development work including participatory rapid appraisal and participatory learning and action.
 
After completing the training course, participants will be able to:
- To use a coherent toolbox of techniques with precise instructions to facilitate participatory group processes to achieve results;
- To listen effectively by collecting feedback from participants as well as facilitating dialogue to develop mutual understanding;
- To use time efficiently and come up with shared innovative results and ideas to plan a group event and;
- To monitor and evaluate participatory processes during the group event; and
- To reflect on the challenges and the potential of intercultural dialogue in group learning processes within the Vietnamese context.
- The trainers and participants will have the opportunities to share their experiences in facilitating participatory processes and practice new ways of overcoming challenges that commonly occur at group events.  After participating in various exercises and facilitating different participatory visualization tools, participants will apply the 12 steps of design to plan a future event for a project as well as benefit from the suggestions of the trainers and participants.

If you are interested in learning more about this capacity building opportunity, please contact CECEM ,  Ms. Tran Thi  Thu Hang  at  [email protected] with a copy to Ms. Barbara Whitney at [email protected]

Trainers:  Dr. Timmi Tillman and Dr. Maria Angelica Salas, VIPP-Core Team, CENPRIS, Universiti Sains Malaysia USM, Penang, Malaysia; Barbara Whitney, MS in Organization Development, International Consultant.

Training Time: 8-12 March 2010
Training fee: $450 ( excluding food, accommodation  and travel)
Training Location: Ha Noi
Language: English