learning-workshop_3_LessonsAboutIPs

= **imGoats project: Learning and reflection workshop** = == Udaipur, India, 2-6 July 2012 ==

Our lessons learnt about innovation platforms: how can we improve the innovation platform?
Four open space groups led by Navneet, Saksia, Birgit and Ewen


 * How to stimulate consistent participation (incentives and more) - NAVNEET**
 * 1) Regular interaction (meeting)
 * 2) Meeting (strategic location, agenda well in advance, invitation letter - manage contact list)
 * 3) All stakeholders points/wishes/expectation to be honoured/fulfilled; acknowledged and addressed
 * 4) Role and responsibility of organizing committee to be well defined
 * 5) Members (absent during meeting) to also be provided with minutes of the meeting
 * 6) All stakeholders to be involved in action plan activiely (formulation and implementation)
 * 7) Points/minutes from last meeting
 * 8) Participation of women
 * 9) Not all have to be present always
 * 10) Contact with VC actors
 * 11) Focus on in-between meetings


 * Sustainability of the IP: Should we ensure it and how? - SASKIA**
 * IP process will continue to exist as long as VC actors see the benefit (added value) of it
 * Most likely VC constraints will remain but may change over time
 * Increase scope/diversify the role of the IP: now only goats, include cattle in future?

HOW?
 * By building capacity of non value chain actors especially facilitators of IP meetings
 * Resources: common fund from members; fund raising from other sources
 * However, if linkages between VC actors are well established, perhaps there is no need for IP


 * How to facilitate actions in between IP meetings as much as possible by VC actors? - BIRGIT**
 * Actors have to see the benefits from the IP
 * How to deal with long distances? E.g. If president works with producers/model farmers in community 100 km away
 * Train field guide to facilitate between actors (providing linkages) e.g. charging for service should be (financial) interest.
 * Field guide acting as a broker -- who pays?! Public money? It can be a commission on transaction. Responsibility of project coordinator
 * First to facilitate that actions take place: can be anyone, e.g. NGO; follow up etc.
 * Other part: VC actors should do actions
 * Transition period: to help/support concrete actions (e.g. build improved shelters). Afterwards others can follow/copy actions.
 * Have a clear plan at the IP meetings. Ensure people know what to do and receive proper guidance.
 * Feedback and reflection at the IP meeting on why things have not been done -- accountability of all VC actors (including NGOs). Project coordinator can call after meeting to find out how things are going.
 * Link the government extension officers with paravets so that they can work together (joint activities or brokering)

The first two lines on this sheet relate to the fact that facilitating IP meetings should be thought at two levels: When facilitating the meeting, an important thing is to announce what (exercise) you will do, to do it (and sometimes repeat what you're doing during the exercise) and to summarize what you did at the end of it.
 * How to facilitate IP meetings - EWEN**
 * For each IP meeting (the 'operational' level), where you need to organize logistics, design the event (according to the elements of the BOSSY HERALD), facilitate and keep track of all kinds of elements in the meeting, document the meeting and follow up with decisions/actions taken.
 * The other ('strategic') level is to think about the series of IP meetings and to progressively involved IP participants into playing an increasing role in it by e.g. presenting projects and ideas, contributing to documenting the meeting, facilitating the meeting etc. so that further down the line they make the IP their own and take collective action to expand the IP (if they think it's relevant). This follows (somewhat) the marketing principle of AIDA:
 * __A__ttract: Get the attention of your IP participants to your ideas/approach, i.e. to joining the IP.
 * __I__nform: Provide them enough information that they understand what, rationally, makes sense for them to join the IP.
 * __D__esire: Create/stimulate a desire to be part of the IP and to play a proactive role in it, so that they can make it their own.
 * __A__ction: Get them to act! Organize the work so that they can act upon their intentions, needs, ideas etc.


 * Additional resources about facilitating meetings**:
 * Every presentation ever (a video example of how a presentation / meeting should __not__ be organized)
 * Examples of how ILRI organizes, facilitates and documents meetings and events on the Maarifa blog.
 * Organizing meetings effectively
 * Ewen’s bookmarks on del.icio.us about presentation and facilitation
 * The chemistry of magical facilitation (post 1 and post 2) (blog posts about facilitation basics, covering the explanation BOSSY HERALD)
 * An overview of Facilitation techniques
 * Find support to be trained on facilitation on the ILRI training wiki
 * Find support on this topic and more on the ILRI Comms wiki (FAQ)

Buzz groups: "What would you do differently?" Two points per group

 * Mozambique**
 * 1) Give more explanation and advocacy on what IP is to, for example, government and community leaders to explain the value of IP and theoretical concept
 * 2) __Maybe__ select the IP secretariat after the first meeting (not during) so as to better know the members


 * Jharkhand**
 * 1) Identification of issues at goat keepers level first before bringing them to the IP meeting
 * 2) Office bearers should be from the community from the inception only (esteemed persons/literate/have knowledge about the district and goat keeping).


 * Rajasthan**
 * 1) Preparatory activity or phase before launching the IP
 * 2) Clarifying how the team sees the IP; is it a knowledge hub/ medium for exchange of information or a coordinating unit?

Closing remarks by Kees

 * Recap on the importance of IPs**
 * IP is meant to improve the performance of the VC in terms of production, quality, transaction cost etc to strengthen the VC
 * Long and varied VC may make it difficult for sustained participation by all VCAs, hence the focus is on the production side which is more direct
 * Processes: IP helps to contribute to achieving objectives outlined in OM framework; teams are actually doing well in this. The IP helps us to reflect and improve.
 * Will this exercise be useful in 3 - 6 months time? Review problems/processes and identify the cause (is it to do with facilitation or information sharing gaps?).
 * As you reflect on OM processes, also reflect on the IP processes