UGPM’s training on power relationships within farmer groups
The discussions conducted with the other organizations which are part of the “Train to Transform” collective, and notably as part of the thinking process from which the six priorities to achieve social transformation were defined, led the UGPM to see power relationships within farmer groups it is supporting as an obstacle to the smooth running of the groups.
To design this training course, the UGPM used the “See-Judge-Act” method, which is a collective thinking supporting method. Therefore, it shapes the training course on power relationships which targets group members and is organized as follows :
Goal : to raise awareness on power relationships existing within the groups
Awareness raising linked to the general running of the group
Specific questions on access to information, participation in debates, decision-making and access to service
Goal : to develop knowledge of power relationships existing within the groups
Exchange on the different power relationships existing within the group observed by the participants
Analysis of the power relationships within the group
Interconnections between power relationships
Goal : To identify levers of action to be implemented within the group
Exchange on negative impacts of the power relationships existing within the group
Definition of solution hypotheses from the major consequences the power relationships have on the running of the group
Choice of a solution that would have the maximum impact
Find details on the different sequences on the following sheet :
Course framework
Participant profile
All group members can take part in the training course :
– Between 30 and 50 members on average
– Committee elected members and leaders
– Representatives of different social groups ; young people, elders, men, women
Goal of the training course
– To help raising awareness on power relationships existing within the group and on their negative impacts
General goal
– To promote each member’s active participation and mobilization in order to improve community life
Specific goals
– To bring members to be aware that there are dysfunctions in the group operation
– To foster members’ expression and participation
– To identify the different types of power relationships at work
– To connect the dysfunctions in the running of the group with the power relationships existing within itself
– To bring the group members to identify levers of action
Examples of recommendations which emerged from the training courses
Here are some examples of recommendations made by the participants upon the end of the training course :
– To support the group so that its members know their roles and responsibilities better
– To multiply and better organize meetings to accustom group members with taking part in debates, and to provide clear rules to foster participation
– To provide further support to the committee which is responsible for sharing information with the sub-districts
Look - Think - Act
