Friday June 22, 2012

A Note from the Project Director

Dear Friends,

Networks are on our minds here at CDA. Specifically, what is a network and how do they work? We have been asking people those questions for the past few months. We have gathered some answers in the papers below, but let me give you a preview of what we have heard.

We heard that sharing a goal means that people look for tools to achieve it.

We heard that learning about each other means that people are open to learning from one another.

We heard that building together means better results for everybody.

Sharing together, learning together, owning together, and building together. While Do No Harm is not a network, this is what DNH has been doing for nearly twenty years.

What we have all built together grew from sharing a goal and our experiences. As we learned about one another, the challenges and difficulties we each faced, we learned from each other how to be better. The lessons that grow from the sharing have taken root as more and more people and organizations have become strong enough, secure enough, and observant enough to share their own experiences.

These shared characteristics between Do No Harm and networks speak to the power of people engaging together on something that matters. When groups gather and focus, they move mountains.

Do No Harm, this thing we have built together, begins as a principle that shapes our path. Later, it becomes a set of tools and techniques that guide us on the path. Finally, it blossoms as a mindset that we take into everything we do.

Peace,
Marshall

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Highlighted Publication

Guidance Note: Evaluation and DNH This recent guidance note details 3 ways to evaluate with DNH.

1. Evaluation of DNH practice

2. Evaluation using DNH

3. Evaluation of the evaluation itself for DNH

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We have to highlight this one too

Five Thoughts on How Networks Work and One on Ownership Over the years people have often asked CDA to start a DNH "network". This effort is beyond our capacity, but we were curious about why people are so drawn to networks and how they affect the uptake of a tool. So we asked.

This brand new paper lays out 5 important considerations for those planning to begin or currently working with a network.

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Issue Papers and Guidance Notes you might have missed!

ISSUE PAPERS

Creativity and DNH Creativity matters, but how and when? (March 2012)

Donors and DNH Donors play a critical role in helping to spread and sustain DNH use. But their efforts have limits. Learn about the influential role of donors in DNH use. (March 2012)

Networks and DNH This issue paper is our first slice into the issue. Read this side-by-side with the paper above. (March 2012)

Keeping It: Maintaining and Sustaining Do No Harm Find out WHY people keep using DNH and HOW they maintain their usage. (June 2011)

Getting It: Introductions and "Aha!" Moments Thousands of people have been trained in DNH, but some of them never really "get it". This paper describes how people are introduced to DNH and their "aha!" moments, where they finally feel they can use the concepts well. (June 2011)

From Confidence to Competence: Getting to Effective Tool Use What does it take to be an effective DNHer? Read this Issue Paper to find out the crucial roles of both Confidence AND Competence in becoming an expert DNH user! (May 2011)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Famine, Legitimacy and DNH Marshall wrote this in response to the recent famine crisis affecting the Horn of Africa. How does food aid affect local power structures? Included are three examples from past famine situations.

Guidance Note: DNH and Peacebuilding This Guidance Note discusses how to successfully integrate DNH into peacebuilding programs and key issues to be aware of. (Sept 2011)

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Recent Activities

Training of Trainers in Cambridge DNH held an Exposure Workshop and ToT in Cambridge in early April. We had an amazing group of trainees and hope to host other similar trainings in the near future! (April 2012)

Community of Practice DNH has recently started a Community of Practice. Using an online interface, a small group will work together in a seminar to learn how to write a training case study. CDA will provide learning materials, set target dates, and hold monthly meetings by Skype. We are currently testing this platform to get a feel for how well it will work. We may open up the group for wider participation in the future. The ultimate goal is to have each participant write their own case study then share these with the group!

Colombia with Ministry of Agriculture and Swiss Development Corporation Nicole continues to work with the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture, the National University of Colombia, and SDC on integrating conflict sensitivity into the recent Land Restitution Law in Colombia.

Feedback Workshops and Network Study Since January of this year, DNH has begun a series of Feedback Workshops. Feedback workshops for this year have included  

• Sri Lanka (Jan 2012)
• Chennai, India (January/February 2012)
• Kenya (March 2012)

Network Study In conjunction with the Feedback Workshop visits, DNH has also begun to examine several Conflict Sensitivity Networks, which have cropped up in recent years. Our aim is to uncover how these networks have influenced CS knowledge and practice. So far, insights from these visits has been incorporated into an Issue Paper, "Networks and DNH," and a shorter occasional paper, "Five Thoughts on How Networks Work and One on Ownership".

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Upcoming Events

Opting Out of War This book by Marshall and Mary Anderson is the final publication of the Steps Toward Conflict Prevention Program (STEPS). It will be released in late summer. Order your advance copy today!

Feedback Workshops and Network Study DNH is continuing its Feedback Workshops and the Network Study series. If you are living/working in any of these locations and would like to attend a Feedback Workshop, please send us an email.  Upcoming trips include 

• Switzerland (Sept)
• Madagascar (Sept)
• UK (Fall)
• Norway (Fall)
• Sudan (TBA)
• Germany (TBA)
• Philippines (TBA)
• Australia (TBA)

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