Aim
- Generate knowledge about the perception of the local living reality through a dialogue with and between local stakeholders.
- To provide extensive information about the functioning of green infrastructure, the scope of the planned project and its benefits and disadvantages.
- To find common solutions, suggestions and ideas in a participatory way to increase the chances of success of green infrastructure.
Description
Local stakeholder engagement workshops are dialogue-oriented events among participants. Unlike training and exchange workshops with experts, this type of workshop is open to all stakeholders. It is characterised by a collaborative approach to enable participants to work towards a common goal defined by the workshop organisers. Workshops are usually supported by a moderator who does not actively intervene in the discussion process and is in charge of leading discussions, resolving conflicts, fostering collaboration and documenting the results.
Steps
1. Define the objectives of the workshop and its expected outcomes
2. Develop an appropriate dynamic to achieve the objectives
SEE-URBAN-WATER: Various social activities are applied: lectures, group work, presentations, expert opinions, games, etc. Experience shows that with a general audience, receptivity and attention span are reached more quickly than with experts. Therefore, a presentation should not last more than 20 minutes. In general, the selection of dynamic activities in which participants take an active role is recommended.
3. Define the timeframe and participants of the workshop
SEE-URBAN-WATER: In this type of workshop, the target group should be defined as broadly as possible. However, it makes sense to set local boundaries (the residents of district X) or to define the target group more precisely (age, gender, people affected, etc.).
4. Finding a suitable venue for the workshop
SEE-URBAN-WATER: To facilitate accessibility for participants, the workshop should take place as close as possible to the target group. To keep participants motivated and attentive, create a pleasant environment: daylight if possible, a pleasant temperature, sufficient food and breaks.
5. Invite participants
6. Running the workshop
7. Documentation of results, acknowledgement, making results available to participants
Results
- In a dialogue with the participants, solutions were developed and conflicts between the participants and their interests were resolved. The participants are aware and informed about the topic of green infrastructure and contributed with their perspectives to a common vision of green infrastructure development.
Rules
Workshop design
- As the workshop is a social event, it is important to foresee aspects such as breaks, appropriate location (lighting, ventilation, etc.), catering and other aspects of social interaction.
- As attention spans may become shorter as the event progresses, the workshop programme should be as versatile as possible. The elements of the workshop (presentation of information, discussion rounds, games, breaks, etc.) should be organised in a varied and structured way.
- A workshop is an event of social tension where different interests, opinions, worldviews coincide. It is of utmost importance that the moderator is able to handle the situation and is ready to intervene at any time without representing his or her own interest.
Workshop process
- Ensure that all participants have a common knowledge base by providing sufficient space to get to know the project, discuss it and clarify open questions.
- As moderator avoid the inclusion of one’s own opinion at any point in the workshop.
Scopes and challenges
- how do I reach as many participants as possible? How do I invite people?
- how do I deal with troublemakers who want to negatively influence the workshop?
- who covers the costs and how do I get the materials for the workshop?