Facilitation

Who should facilitate an integrated security workshop?

Ideally, an integrated security workshop should be facilitated by two to four facilitators, with two facilitators at a minimum. The facilitators should be diverse in age, perspectives and country of origin.

FACILITATORS SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH

• the region of the workshop (if participants are selected on a geographic basis); and/or
• the group or movement that is being addressed (if participants are selected on the basis of thematic focus, such as sexual rights or violence against women).

This contextual familiarity is a critical part of adaptation of the workshop and in establishing connections to the participants – the facilitators are the cultural and contextual mediators. They should know how best to translate the integrated security method and material into a workshop that is relevant and appropriate to the learning styles and situation of the participants.

What qualities make for a good facilitator?

An integrated security facilitator should be familiar with the workshop concepts of security and well-being of women human rights defenders, but she/he does not have to be an ‘expert’ in them.

KEY QUALITIES OF A FACILITATOR ARE:

• Understanding/experience of the security and well-being concerns of women human rights defenders;
• Experience of and skill in participatory, peer-to-peer facilitation methods;
• Openness;
• Understanding of group dynamics;
• Flexibility;
• Love of the work;
• Connection to the activist world;
• Positive, sense of humour, not afraid to play;
• Open to learning during the workshop;
• Good listener;
• Grounded; and
• Deeply respectful.