Training, Facilitation and Professional Development

IDL supports teams and organizations to achieve their goals through the facilitation of change process and integrated learning events. We work with clients in three major areas:

1. Facilitation of organization change processes,
2. Professional development for individuals,
3. Learning materials and toolkits.

New Learning Solutions in a Challenging Environment

The rapid changes in international development means organizations are engaged in a continuous process of organizational development, change and learning. Individuals seek to build their competencies on an on-going basis, and find ways of capturing and incorporating lessons from within and outside their organizations. As the architecture of aid is reconfigured, people from governments, donors and their partners are faced with the challenge of setting their own areas of expertise into a broader context. This includes policy reform, globalisation, trade, and new international financing instruments.

A working knowledge of these change processes and contextual issues, having the necessary analytical tools and staying well informed, is crucial.

Facilitation of Change processes

Organisation change and development

IDL facilitates processes of change for teams and organizations. Through a process of exploration IDL works with clients to unpack the implications of new change initiatives and stimulate broader thinking on key issues. Change intiatives may include the development and implementation of a new strategic plan, the incorporation of a new development approach, or bringing a new focus to their work – such as incorporating a livelihood approach or putting a new policy frame work into practice. IDL’s approach is rooted in an understanding of what it is the organization is ultimately trying to achieve. We design a practical change strategy based on the realities faced by an organization, with plans and indicators for assessing change. We accompany the organization through their change process, through visits, facilitated workshops and meetings for staff and with partners, and staff development programs as required.  

Facilitation of in-house workshops, retreats and team away-days

Working in close liaison with our clients we design and facilitate in-house workshops to meet a range of needs from lesson learning to obtaining consensus on key decisions. This includes for example annual events where diverse members of an organization come together for reflection, capturing lessons and exploration of strategic options for taking their work forward. IDL also coordinates the planning of workshop programs with external speakers, ensuring that the needs of our clients are addressed, and manages the event and facilitates plenary sessions.
         
Training of Facilitators and Trainers

As part of an organization capacity building process IDL provides courses for ‘Training Trainers’ and ‘Training Facilitators’. Participants gain the very latest thinking and best practice in adult learning based on developments in cognitive psychology and brain science, education and participative learning methods and techniques. We provide unique ways of incorporating this thinking into interactive and engaging session design, and invention of new learning and facilitation tools. 

We run advanced courses for highly experienced trainers and facilitators wanting to maintain their skills at the cutting edge of adult learning, as well as for those new to facilitation and training seeking to establish a solid grounding in this area. 

Professional Development and Training

Learning Strategies

IDL designs professional staff development strategies in a process that begins long before any training event with a thorough learning needs assessments. This includes exploring external and internal factors that are driving the need for new learning in the organization, and what supporting environment is needed to help people apply their new learning. We measure the effectiveness of learning events well beyond the event itself (say the workshop or seminar) in terms of outcomes - the degree to which people are better able to meet organizational goals - rather than simply delivery of training.

The strategies we develop for clients incorporate flexible and focused approaches to learning that makes use of the latest innovative methods. An approach of ‘blended learning’ offers learning events that range from short sessions of a few hours to longer events, focused on-the-job learning, workshops, seminars, and coaching. This is based on a thorough understanding of the learning needs of the participants and a sound knowledge of the context in which an organisation is working. IDL’s approach ensures training for individuals is inextricably linked to organisation strategies and goals.

Bespoke learning events

We design unique learning events to meet the specific needs of clients that require the development of bespoke training materials and courses. Our clients apply the tools and approaches explored during training across to a range of challenges including:

1. Supporting the process of pro-poor policy reform;
2. Influencing agricultural policy through PRSPs;
3. Analysing the political economy of policy processes;
4. Livelihoods analysis and strategy formulation;
5. Agricultural sector reform, SWAps and General Budget Support;
6. Reform of public sector service delivery; and
7. Organisational capacity building process.

IDL’s approach to learning

IDL designs events to suit the learning preferences of participants, their professional and cultural backgrounds and their role in their organisation. IDL training is highly interactive, making use of techniques that are aimed at stimulating debate, inquiry and hands-on learning. IDL’s Training and Professional Development Unit is continuously designing new learning approaches, methods and tools. These include innovations such as livelihoods board games and case studies based on current development programmes. IDL’s training opportunities meet the specific needs of professionals working in today’s complex development environment, where policy and institutional reform is central to an agency’s work.

Modules for Academic Courses

IDL designs and delivers Modules for post-graduate courses at Universities. The Modules are designed specifically to fit the needs of an academic course where students are called on to learn and be able to apply analytical concepts and tools. Our Modules are valued by our clients and students because they bring a unique blend of experience spanning international to community based work, academic rigor, applied research and live case studies from on-going consultancy and project work. We span topics from new thinking in strategic planning and project cycle management in today’s development context, to environment, social development, education and the political economy of change.

Production of learning materials and toolkits

IDL designs and produces training materials, manuals and guidelines for use by facilitators and trainers. We use information provided by clients as well as case study material from our own work, research and publications. We also review clients’ own course materials and provide recommendations on aspects such as content for specific topics and training techniques.

Where clients require a comprehensive package, IDL designs and facilitates the whole process of developing and piloting new learning toolkits. We work with our clients’ own trainers and facilitators to design the materials, develop interactive sessions, new case studies and activities, incorporate varied and engaging learning methods, and plan the piloting of the toolkit and how to capture lessons that are used to modify the toolkit. This ensures the skills for on-going learning and improvement of the toolkit are embedded in our client’s own organization processes. 

For further information contact IDL Training and Professional development:
Karen Iles
training@theIDLgroup.com