Ghana: Facilitation Skills

The Institute of Development Practice and Management (IDPM) is deploring the experiences and skills of Participatory Development Associate’s (PDA) training team to roll-out a course in facilitation skills. Achieving successful outcomes through effective facilitation has never been more important in development processes. You may need to solve a particular problem, gain consensus to a course of action, or mediate in a conflict. This course is designed to meet the specific needs of people who work with groups/communities. The course equips participants to be able to design and manage processes that will ensure successful outcomes and gain the commitment of all those involved. It would be of great benefit to participants since they will be equipped with in-depth knowledge of facilitation, and the qualities and skills of a good facilitator.

Objectives of the course/Course benefits:

By the end of the Introduction to Facilitation course participants would:

• Have been exposed to and acknowledge the importance and usefulness of facilitation in development practice
• Have increased their knowledge of key concepts and terminologies used in facilitation
• Understand the role of the facilitator
• Be able identify the key task for effective facilitation
• Have been equipped with some basic skills and methods in facilitation for their your work
• Have had the opportunity to practice facilitation and get feedback

Broad Course Content

1. What is facilitation

· Why facilitation?/Purpose

· Difference between Facilitation and animation

· Elements of facilitation

1. Participation and how its linked to facilitation

· What is participation

· How to promote participation

1. The core role of a facilitator

· What does a facilitator do?

· Attitude of a facilitator

· Skills of a facilitator Listening, Questioning,

· Observation

· Paraphrasing

· probing

· Creating and facilitating dialogue to reach a consensus

1. Working with group
2. Group dynamics- how to handle difficult group members

Course fee and logistics

This is a five-day course. The course fee of GH¢300 covers tuition, training materials, lunch, transportation for field trips and a certificate. Participants will bear their own accommodation costs.

Course venue

PDA’s Institute for Development Practice is located near Accra Technical Training College (ATTC), Kokomlemle, Accra.

Course Dates

This course will be run every other month starting from January 2016.

Language of discourse

A mixture of English and the dominant Ghanaian language among participants.

Course trainers

Tony Dogbe, the lead facilitator, has over 25 years of experience in development practice. PDA’s training programmes are unique and different in that we ensure an interactive learning atmosphere where each participant can address his/her learning needs individually. Our training is participatory in nature engaging your interest from the start allowing individual reflection and practical group work and presentations. In this wise the facilitators:

• Use facilitative methods to structure the course
• Demonstrate effective facilitation techniques to enhance participants’ learning experience
• Provide opportunities for group discussions on key facilitation topics
• Provide learning journals to make note of personal reflections, discussions and experience

Please return this completed application form to:

The IDPM Courses Administrator at Participatory Development Associates

By email: mboadi@pdaghana.com

By hand/courier: The Institute for Development Practice and Management, at PDA

No.30, Oroko Road (near Central View Hotel and ATTC), Kokomlemle, Accra

Telephone +233 (0)28 955 4360 or 0302 243 098