Policy and strategy matters are incorporated in the analysis presented to the Fredskorpset board, and therefore omitted in this presentation. The list of advices is edited and repeated or overlapping points are taken out.
• How to create an unthreatening environment in the partnership for dealing with difficulties?
- Make sure there is a rule that failure is not the end of the partnership.
- Talk about the unequal relation between the partners.
- Talk about the possibilities that the partner can be wrong.
- Make sure that the partnership discussion takes place in more countries.
- Regular check-points, not only in time of crisis.
- Private mentor for the young participants.
- Define exit alternatives.
• How to create and maintain a common understanding between the partners?
- Write down the consensus.
- Create common goal between the partners.
- Define concrete work outputs together.
- Think beyond the partnership agreements.
- Partners show each other different sides of society.
- Spend time together, creating relationships.
- Workshop in intercultural communication with the partners.
- Need for long-term perspective for the partnership.
• How do we make sure that the partners have enough information before the exchange begins?
- Improve technological level at the partners to facilitate communication.
- Responsible person should share information with others at their institutions.
- Manual for the role of the receiving partner should be agreed upon.
- Have several workshops between partners in the planning period.
• How can we prevent culture shock for participants while they are away from home?
- Sufficient advance information about host country.
- Mentor (social supervisor) should be appointed, not necessary the partnership contact person.
- Create access to communication to/from home.
- Local language learning.
- Create environment to allow participants to “air” feelings.
- The host has to be accessible in advance.
- Buy mobile phones for participants so they are not isolated by communication.
- Attach the participant with local family to increase learning of local language.
• How can we improve the preliminary study?
- Advice and experience should be made available (experience from other partners from the region).
- Fredskorpset staff should give his/her overviews during the process.
- Living expenses in Norway should be explained and made concrete.
- North open up more “homes”.
• Communication: How can we communicate more effectively with the available technology?
- Use many means of communication, and give training and support when needed (Phone, MSM Messenger, Internet, E-mail. SMS) and face-to-face meetings when needed.
• How do we organize joint planning?
- Organize early enough.
- Have an action plan, e.g. both parties know who will do what when.
- Establish monitoring tool to know the progress.
- Ensure proper coordination.
- Discuss (and agree) during the pre-project visits (with workshops).
- Define the interest of both partners.
- Define the role and duty of those going to the pre-project visit.
- Develop a common concept and practical aspects of the concept.
- Write a good detailed programme document early, get comments and send it to each with comments.
• Which criteria do we put to choose the right participants?
- Brave people.
- Voluntary (not headhunted). Proactive effort when applying.
- Good professional qualifications and well educated.
- Creative and innovative.
- Can transfer skills abroad and back home.
- Someone who on a personal level is able to go abroad.
- Suitable “culturally”, can adapt to and respect local values.
- Have specific skills (professional skills based in the objectives of the project).
- Can contribute to the specific project. Technical ability to do the job.
- Cultural, personal and intercultural skills (can adjust, manage new environment).
• Which criteria are important when selecting candidates?
- Have gender equality.
- Find people who “match” the target groups.
- Genuine interest in and motivation for information work and the topics.
- Proper selection procedures – time to get to know the candidates.
- Capability of doing information work.
- Be able to clearly understand the aims of the partners.
• How can the South partner be given more feedback?
- Facilitate meetings for planners in partnerships.
- Continue to give partners freedom to define and develop the projects – with guiding principles and experience from Fredskorpset.
- More room for face-to-face meetings between potential partners at the preliminary planning stage.
- Arrange for regular regional and national meetings for participants and/or partners.
- Ensure that exchange programme is really integrated into the partner-organisations policies/programmes.
- Be more focused / conscious of outcome expectations of the various program-lines (ref. long term perspectives).
- Make videos and films of different programmes to be used in communication work and training.
- Branding Fredskorpset and make it easier to recognise and understand.
- Need documentation of what the partners are going through.