182
65 Holly Shrumm and Harry Jonas
Box 5: Qualities and actions of a good
facilitator
Box 6: Key questions for discussion with
those involved in the protocol process
• Be an active listener
• Play a supporting role
• Respect the local culture and traditions
• Maintain an atmosphere of respect and openness
• Foster trust and confidence
• Be consistent and clear
• Remain neutral and level-headed
• Keep up positive momentum
• Take notice of subtle changes in energy and tone
• Develop positive rapport with a range of
community members
• Keep the broader objectives in mind and help focus
discussions on key issues
• What is the purpose of the protocol?
• What is our role? What does the process involve?
• What are the costs and risks?
• What are the benefits?
• How would it be useful to our community or group?
• How can we plan for and respond appropriately to
unexpected opportunities or consequences?
• identifying key discussion points;
• securing logistics and materials;
• arranging for translation;
• setting the ground rules;
• following the agenda and time constraints;
and
• keeping a record of discussions.
Seeking the support of community
catalysts
In addition to your own role as the
primary facilitator, you will require the
support of other community members
who demonstrate certain qualities such as:
• Leadership
• Sense of commitment to the greater good;
• Reliability
• Initiative
• Ability to work well independently and
in teams
• Open-mindedness
• Flexibility
• Willingness to learn
These individuals could be considered
‘community catalysts’ or people who have
the potential to inspire and create significant change. Although they may not
necessarily serve as official representatives
of the community, there are countless
different roles that they could play, including facilitating workshops, presenting at
local schools, contacting the media, or
organising a delegation to visit a local
government official. They should be
comfortable with taking responsibility for
a certain part of the process and reporting
back to others involved, including yourself
and the community leaders.
Managing expectations
One of the most important parts of facilitating a protocol process is to manage the
expectations of those involved (Boxes 6 and
7). This includes individuals and groups
both within the community and amongst
external actors. Establishing a sense of realistic expectations at the beginning and
throughout the process can help prevent
disappointment and cynicism. It can also
provide a mechanism for reflection and
evaluation at different stages of the process.
Managing timeframes
There is no set rule or formula for how long
it takes to ‘do’ a biocultural community protocol. The timeframe for the whole process of
documenting, developing, using and reflecting upon a protocol will vary widely
depending on the local context. Each part of
the process could be affected by a range of
factors and unavoidable circumstances, both
positive and negative (Box 8). For many
communities, a protocol is seen as an ongoing and evolving process that is part of their
long-term plans and strategies. The protocol
may thus have no clear ‘beginning’ or ‘ending’.
As far as possible, the timeframe
should be determined by the local situation and by the community’s priorities and
capacities. Although practical considerations such as available funds and human
resources must be taken into account,
timeframes should not be determined
primarily by external interests or donor
requirements.