GIZ -Dale Carnegie Training of Trainers: Effective delivery of trainings

30 Apr, 2022

A four-day GIZ-Dale Carnegie training of trainers (ToT) on the effective delivery of trainings using participatory methods was organised by GIZ under the Indo-German Project on Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation from 26-29 April 2022 at Kodagu, Karnataka. 18 trainers and faculty members from premier national and state-level training institutions of the forest, agriculture, veterinary, media and private sector participated along with two master trainers from GIZ and Dale Carnegie. The overall expected output of the ToT was to facilitate the trainers in enhancing the effectiveness of their training courses to enable them to forge cooperation from training institutions of other sectors in planning cross-sector trainings on HWC mitigation, taking a One Health approach.

The project has engaged Dale Carnegie for supporting in implementation of ‘Training of Trainers’ events followed by a faculty development support programme for participants. The project has partnered with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR-NAARM) for developing and pilot testing knowledge products, training material to facilitate cross-sector cooperation on HWC mitigation between forest and agriculture-veterinary sectors in India, taking a One Health approach.

The ToT was implemented using innovative, customised and participatory methods with the following Learning Outcomes:

• Use a participatory approach and tools for overall training management for achieving the desired impacts from the training and for ensuring sustainability in training offers
• Presenting with impact
• Ability to independently implement participatory methods of training
• Roles and responsibilities of a facilitator, basic skills for understanding the adult learner and training fundamentals
• Able to address the learning needs of different groups of participants and customise the training methods as per their needs
• Plan for joint trainings and other capacity development measures (cross-sector participation)

To support two strategic goals (Goal 19 and 20) of the HWC-NAP relevant to capacity development, this ToT facilitated a group of faculty members and trainers from the forest, veterinary, agriculture, media and private sector to work together to develop a common understanding of the capacity development needs of the target groups on HWC mitigation to develop joint training programs that can be delivered using faculty exchange between these institutions and also exploring possibilities of long-term cooperation between institutions. Participation from institutions such as the Forest Training Center, Kushalnagar, Kodagu, Government of Karnataka will specifically facilitate the capacity development of mahouts and daily wage workers engaged in activities contributing to HWC mitigation.

Day 1 focused on key issues and challenges in planning, developing and implementing competencies-based trainings on HWC mitigation using a participatory approach with focused sessions on adult learning styles, and creating organisational impact. A competency framework on HWC mitigation that has been drafted under the Indo-German project was discussed and used for identifying capacity development measures required for key target groups in the forest, agriculture, veterinary and animal husbandry, and media sectors. The participants were introduced to the current training resource material on HWC mitigation and One Health developed under the Indo-German project.

A field visit to HWC hotspots in Kodagu was organised where the participants interacted with the local rapid response teams, observed specific prevention measures such as a solar fence, hanging (tentacle) fence, interacted with the local coffee planters to understand different perspectives on HWC from different stakeholders and also get a first-hand experience of the selected mitigation measures and their technical specifications and maintenance requirements. Day 1 culminated with a reflection session, where the participants consolidated key learnings from the day and identified specific training methods for planning, organising and implementing field expeditions at HWC hotspots, while ensuring the health and safety of the participants.

Day 2 focused on the topics of creative engagement principles, facilitating group results as well as discussing and practising selected participatory methods of training, including brainstorming, brainwriting, fishbowl, role play, simulation, bus-stop method, knowledge café, mind-maps, market-place, moderated discussion, dilemma, etc. The first trainer’s laboratory was conducted as a mock exercise, where participants practised some participatory methods and facilitation methods and implemented the principles of creative engagement. Dedicated sessions were organised on session structure, vocal skills, body language and other interpersonal skills for facilitators.

The participants chose specific thematic issues from HWC mitigation, and they worked for the next 4 days and delivered sessions on these topics during the ‘Trainer’s Lab’ demonstration training that was organised for the local rapid response teams (RRTs).

Days 3 and 4 focused on the second and third trainers’ laboratory, where the participants implemented a ‘Competencies-based training for the Rapid Response Teams: Holistic Approach to Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation’ for the members of division-level and range-level rapid response teams from Virajpet and Madikeri divisions. This exercise helped the participants in testing all the knowledge and skills that were imparted on 1 and 2. Participants used participatory methods including brainstorming, brainwriting, fishbowl, knowledge café, role play and moderated discussion. The day culminated with a coaching session, where the participants were provided feedback and coaching by the master trainer on their training sessions with the RRTs.

On the last day of the ToT, a dedicated session was organised on the measures for sustaining the effectiveness of the training in the form of a knowledge café, where participants worked on joint training plans to be implemented in the next 30/ 60/ 90 days. The participants identified specific areas where they would require collaborative inputs from other sector institutions and experts. A dialogue between the participants from different training organisations led to a preliminary network of cross-sector training organisations that can support each other for the cross-sector knowledge and skills during training courses. Networking ideas were discussed, and it was agreed that experiences from implementing participatory training methods will be shared within the group, during online events, and possibly a face-to-face follow-up event to be organised by GIZ, for the continuous support of the trainers and their respective training organizations in assimilating the knowledge and skills gained from this ToT.

The ToT culminated with a feedback and certificate session. Participants graded this TOT as highly effective. The repeat benchmarking exercise shows that the participants felt ready to implement the training using participatory training methods, and they had clear ideas and willing partners to implement cross-sector training courses. The ToT ended with a clear plan for trainings to be implemented at the training organisations present in this ToT over the next 6 months.

Participants Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy; five training centres under the Directorate of Forest Education (DFE) of the Government of India: CASFOS Burnihat, Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFOS) Coimbatore, CASFOS Burnihaat, Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA)-Coimbatore, Odisha Forest Rangers College (OFRC), Angul, Forest Training Center, Kushalnagar, Kodagu; the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions- National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) and ICAR-National Research Center on Meat; Animal Husbandry Dept, Uttarakhand Government, Science and Media departments of the St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Mumbai, An NGO working on HWC mitigation- Aaranyak, and a private sector expert.

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About the project

The Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (HWC) project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and State Forest Departments of Karnataka, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. The project aims at providing technical support at the national level, and effective implementation of HWC mitigation measures in selected states of India. The project pilot sites are Haridwar Forest Division and adjoining landscape including Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, Gorumara Wildlife Division in West Bengal, and Kodagu Forest Circle in Karnataka.

The main objective of the project is that the rural population in project areas, where agreed guidelines and tools are applied to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, is better protected against it. The project takes the approach of harmonious coexistence, by ensuring that both—humans and wildlife—are protected from conflict. Read More

For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de