A Publication of Peace-Building Department of Hope Interactive

Article by Mshelia Birma

DIALOGUE PLANNING TECHNIQUES:

PROCESS FLOWCHART

• Identification of problem during e.g. safe/listening spaces, town hall meetings or sport event.
• Identification/mapping and screening of stakeholders (most times, the mapping allows you to identify major and minor stakeholders).
• Small pre-dialogue sessions which help us to enlighten parties involved and stakeholders to know what dialogue is all about and what dialogue is not (most times helping them to know that dialogue is not a debate); to be sure they are ready to talk. It is also another way of assuring them that the dialogue is not solely for decision making but an avenue for all stakeholders and parties to understand each other. This has been helpful especially in building confidence in the process.
• Conducting background checks on the parties involved to know which community elder, religious leader they revere and listen to. When we identify these people, we talk to them one-on-one to get their buy-in and accompaniment.
• Allowing each party/stakeholder involved to choose a date for the dialogue: here we are careful not to choose a date for them and we want them to drive and own the process.
• Working with the community elders, religious or traditional leaders the parties revere to identify religious/cultural/conflict/gender sensitivities, which will guide us in issues like selection of venue for dialogue, who should be present, appropriate time and possibly sitting arrangement, awareness of prayer times and festival dates, dietary needs, gender issues, body language, and customs such as removing shoes (or preferring not to remove shoes) Etc.

Problem analyses: This is usually done among smaller groups, which is collated afterwards.

Identification and prioritization of options and approach. This is a very crucial stage because it helps us to identify what options we have and what dialogue approach will be most appropriate. Sometimes depending on the issue on ground, just one approach will be sufficient. Sometimes we employ a hybrid of approach. Approaches we have used so far includes appreciative enquiry, consensus decision making and William Isaac’s approach known as the art of thinking together (which incorporates the four principles of listening, respecting, voicing and suspending judgment). Wriggling through these approaches have made our dialogues successful.

Planning together. Key stakeholders are asked to provide individuals that will be involved in the planning process. This is still a way of providing room for accountability, transparency and ownership.