During our workshop last week we explored how Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Resource Centre Networks support learning in their WASH sectors and what change has resulted from their work so far.
Published on: 23/04/2012
One of the ways we did this was by collecting, sharing and reflecting on change stories. During the 1st day of the workshop each country coordinator told a story of change to an IRC colleague and together they refined and wrote down the story. The next day coordinators shared these stories alongs with change stories that had been prepared before the workshop. This had been done through an iterative process, first identifying potential stories through the monitoring reports, then further documenting them through email exchange and Skype discussions between the network coordinator, an external learning consultant and several IRC staff. We used a simple format with the following elements:
We also provided each story with a title, a description of the kind of change it describes (changes in insights/knowledge, changes in practices & behaviour, organisational or sector-wide changes) and the key words.
Emerging lessons on how Resource Centre Networks catalyse change
After listening to the change stories the group discussed lessons learned that surpass country level. There were several stories that showed a link between activities that RCNs had undertaken (for example research, producing information products, documenting important sector events or facilitating them) and the demand for these services. There is a gradual increase in demand for short and attractive documents that give key messages and conclusions from sector events, there is appreciation for facilitation methods and the 'learning events' that RCNs provide. Participants reflected on what makes RCN initiatives successful in facilitating sector learning. Common lessons in the country stories of change included the following:
Overall, we found that storytelling was an inspiring and useful activity. It helped us understand better what each RCN has been doing and helped us explore the links between our work and changes in the sector. To make the story come alive, you really need the practical knowledge of the process and examples. To ensure the story is convincing to others it needs to be backed by evidence. Adding quotes from sector stakeholders could further strengthen the stories.
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