The Workshop (8/4/10)

As I may have mentioned, the main objective of my time here in Mali has been to help the team here come up with a new baseline survey in an effort to improve the monitoring and evaluation systems they have in place. And, as a part of that process, I was going to have to go out into the field and test that survey (find out how well the questions were understood, how consistent the responses were, etc).

Well, in talking with the other members of the staff, rather than me just going out with one of the field agents to talk with some former program participants, they thought it would be a good idea to hold a workshop with representatives from all of our partner organizations. You see, Trickle Up itself doesn’t have people in the field. Rather, it contracts with other local NGOs (who know the local languages and dialects better and know the remote villages and regions better). There is a central Trickle Up staff of 7 based in Sevare (where I am). These 7 people are in charge of directing and organizing the work of 17 partner organizations who work with several thousand clients on our behalf. Thus, since it is not Trickle Up staff directly who administer the baseline surveys, they felt (and rightfully so) that it was very important to get input from all of the partners regarding the new survey as well. And, the best way to do that? Hold a three-day workshop. And, being as this new survey was largely my project, I would be the primary one responsible for planning the workshop.

In the initial discussion about this workshop, the staff wanted to do it a week later. But, when I was shocked and concerned about having to get everything ready and prepared with only a week’s time (the survey wasn’t even finished, mind you), they decided to delay by one week. I now had 2 weeks to plan this workshop. I was very busy from that point on.

I’ve planned workshops before, and I actually kind of enjoy public speaking. So, that part of it wasn’t daunting. What made me a little nervous, however, was the fact that I was going to have to do this thing in French. My French is decent. I can communicate what I need to. But, that isn’t to say that its perfect. And, coming up with the correct wording for something like a questionnaire needs a good amount of exacting. Changing even a few words can change a field agent or participant’s comprehension of what the question is asking for. So, that part made me a little nervous.

But, we planned it all out. I made a PowerPoint presentation not only as a visual aid, but also as a guide for myself (with all of the appropriate vocabulary, etc)- a cheat sheet, if you will. I also had the full support of the team here. They would jump in if need be to help clarify any points, and one of the guys was actually going to help me with some of the presenting.

Well, this workshop was just this last week. And, as a whole, I think everything went well. The presentations were well understood. And, the field test (in which we had all of the field agents go out to nearby villages and test out the survey) went well as well (it didn’t rain, alhumdulilah!). And all of the partner agencies seemed happy that we were consulting them for input (in the past, the surveys have pretty much just been given out, without considerable input from field agents). So, that was very good. All in all, I think it went very well.

Now, all I have to do is synthesize all the comments people had to give and come up with a new and improved version of the survey. A tall task considering I only have a week left in Mali. So, probably what will happen is that I will have to finish my work once I get back to NY (the Trickle Up Headquarters is in NY). I’ll be able to wrap up my work there.