Facilitation and Training

In all our work with different clients, facilitation and training are two key elements of the work that we do.

Facilitation

Constructive dialogue replaces conflict, thanks to skilled navigation of complex partnerships between communities, developers, and authorities. Fair resolutions blossom where grievances once festered — nurtured by a commitment to equitable development.

We carry out two kinds of facilitation

Facilitating people in community Her Dignity always works with communities. Usually when given a contract that requires community engagement, Her Dignity requests that the community identify members (particularly young) and trains them in working with their communities through becoming waraghbishi (animators) able to:

• listen to and represent different groups in their community, women and men, young and old and particularly the most vulnerable groups to ensure that their voices are also heard. • present back to their communities through community theatre or other means the issues that have arisen through talking to all the different groups • interpret the wishes of the investor or other outside group to the community in language that is comprehensible • address and resolve any misunderstandings or conflicts that might arise during the interaction between investor and community • ensure that the most vulnerable individuals and groups are not sidelined by any project.

After training the waraghbishi, Her Dignity continues to interact closely with the waraghbishi as well as community leaders to ensure a win-win situation where both community and project owner are satisfied.

Her Dignity has won a platinum award from the International Association of Facilitators for its work in the resettlement of more than 2000 people for the Nyati Mineral Sands Project in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam including grievance management and relocation support (including grave relocation and identification of and support to the most vulnerable affected by the relocation.

Case Study During the process of investigating historic abuses against community members in the villages surrounding Mwadui mine, Her Dignity was given the task of ensuring that the women received their compensation without any further harassment or abuse and were able to use the money from their compensation to better their lives and the lives of their families. In order to do this, Her Dignity:

• Trained waraghbishi from all the 11 villages (2 from each village) • Trained some of the women who had been victims of these historical abuses • Held healing sessions with the women who had been abused in order to enable them to address their trauma and build solidarity among them • Conducted visits before and after the compensation was paid and ensured that any potential conflict was resolved. In particular this consisted of talking to the family members together, especially the husband to create consensus that the compensation belonged to the woman and her ideas were for the benefit of the family so the husband should not interfere or demand part of the money.

As a result, many of the women were able to build houses, buy land and transform their lives. (see pictures). Before and after.

Other examples included: Facilitating compensation for people affected by the bursting of the tailings dam in Mwadui

Grievance management with Nyati and ensuring the most vulnerable received additional support for which Her Dignity won an international award with International Association of Facilitators.

Conflict resolution in Malawi through training of animators and facilitating community dialogue between community leaders and members and the investor

Facilitation/training workshops

• Her Dignity has experience in facilitating workshops in many different fields. Her founders, Annagrace Rwehumbiza and Richard Mabala are both well known participatory facilitators who have facilitated uncountable workshops with women, young people, senior management, international agencies (UNICEF, Population Council, Asante Africa Foundation, Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services), national NGOs (twaweza, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme)

Uraghbishi and community engagement Ubuntu/utu and development Gender, intersectionality and development Power, vulnerability and empowerment Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Safeguarding Alternative Dispute Resolution and conflict management techniques Social Performance and Impact Assessments (Participatory Action) Research Grievance management and relocation support (livelihoods, grave relocation, vulnerability assessment and support IFC and ESG Human rights based approaches to development Participatory methodologies (PAR, Appreciative Inquiry, Most Significant Change among others) Theatre for Development (community theatre)

Case Study Her Dignity- Workshop Case Study: Capacity Building Workshop for the Safeguarding Programme in Shinyanga Introduction Her Dignity/Utu Jamii conducted a four-day staff reflection and capacity building workshop bringing together 12 participants consisting of both long-serving and newly recruited team members. The workshop was designed to revisit the values, principles, and approaches that characterise the organization's work with communities, particularly vulnerable populations and survivors of violence. Beyond strengthening already acquired experiential knowledge, the workshop created space for participants to reflect on their personal attitudes, assumptions, power, and responsibilities when engaging with communities. Through highly participatory methods, the sessions encouraged staff to learn from one another, challenge their perspectives, and reconnect with the purpose and impact of their work. Workshop Approach and Methodology A defining feature of the workshop was its participatory methodologies. Rather than relying on lectures and presentations alone, the facilitator, Mr Mabala, employed storytelling, group discussions, role plays, reflection exercises, mini dramas, ranking exercises, power analysis, case studies, and experiential learning activities. Participants were encouraged to draw on their own experiences and those of the communities they serve. This approach ensured that learning remained grounded in real-life situations while creating an environment where all participants could contribute regardless of position, experience, or educational background. The workshop itself modelled the principles of participation and inclusion that Her Dignity promotes in its community work. Participants were not treated as passive recipients of information but as active contributors whose experiences and insights enriched the learning process. Key Themes and Learning Ubuntu and Organizational Identity The workshop began with a reflection on Ubuntu and its relevance to Her Dignity's mission and approach. Through storytelling, whereby each participant narrated one example of Ubuntu they had practised or witnessed, group activities, and discussion, participants explored the idea that human dignity is rooted in our interconnectedness and shared humanity and provides the basis for inclusive development and community-centered approaches. Participants reflected on the importance of ensuring that communities are not viewed simply as beneficiaries of development but as active partners whose experiences, knowledge, and aspirations are essential for any programme.meaningful development cannot occur when people are excluded from decisions that affect their lives. Power and Empowerment Among all the workshop topics, discussions on power generated some of the most active engagement and reflection. Participants examined the meaning and dimensions of four different dimensions of power: • Power Over • Power Within • Power With • Power To

Through practical scenarios and discussion, participants explored how power operates in communities and within their own work. They reflected on how factors such as gender, age, education, professional status, language, economic position, and access to resources influence relationships and decision-making.

Particular attention was given to the role we as staff t play when entering communities. Participants considered how seemingly ordinary factors such as arriving in a vehicle, using technical language, mixing Swahili and English, using digital devices, or positioning themselves as experts can unintentionally create distance and reinforce unequal power dynamics. In reflecting on power, one of the most powerful insights participants gained was that, while every staff member carries some form of 'power over' when entering a community. The true impact, therefore, lies in consciously transforming that power into 'power with'. By recognizing that authority can be used either to impose or to uplift, staff realized that their work is not about imposing solutions, but about fostering agency. When we enter a space with humility, listen actively, and seek to empower others, we help them reclaim their inherent power. Thus, the workshop not only helped us see power differently but also inspired us to ensure that our influence always lifts others up, rather than diminishes them. Gender, Vulnerability and Intersectionality Participants explored how vulnerability is shaped not only by gender but also by multiple intersecting factors including age, disability, economic status, social position, education, geography, and family circumstances. Through case studies and group exercises, participants examined how different individuals may experience varying levels of power, exclusion, or vulnerability within communities. Discussions highlighted the importance of recognizing those who may be invisible or excluded from decision-making processes and ensuring that their voices are intentionally included. The sessions reinforced the need for staff to avoid assumptions and instead seek to understand the unique experiences and circumstances of each individual and community. Active Listening and Reflective Practice A significant focus of the workshop was the development of active listening skills. Participants reflected on common barriers to effective listening, including interrupting, judging, rushing to provide solutions, and listening merely to respond rather than to understand. Through practical exercises and role plays, participants recognised how often they tended to interrupt and guide rather than listen and developed their techniques for creating trust, demonstrating empathy, asking open-ended questions, and supporting individuals to express themselves freely and safely. Safeguarding and Protection As safeguarding was the key objective of the workshop, all the previous discussions converged on examining safeguarding not merely as a policy requirement but as a responsibility rooted in dignity, justice, accountability, and protection. Discussions focused on the six core safeguarding principles: • Empowerment • Prevention • Protection • Proportionality • Partnership • Accountability

Case study discussions challenged participants to consider complex situations involving community pressure, cultural norms, power imbalances (especially in relation to gender), confidentiality, and survivor protection. Through these conversations, participants reflected on the realities survivors face and the responsibility of organizations and staff to respond in ways that prioritize safety, dignity, informed consent, and accountability. A major issue was that of proportionality, the need to address each situation on its merits, taking into account the best interests of the vulnerable person/survivor.

Participant Engagement and Reflections Participant engagement remained consistently high throughout the workshop. The participatory nature of the sessions encouraged honest dialogue, critical thinking, and meaningful reflection. The mix of new and experienced staff proved particularly valuable as experienced staff contributed practical insights from years of field engagement while newer staff brought fresh perspectives and questions that deepened discussion. Perhaps most importantly, the workshop created a space for collective reflection and renewed purpose. Participants left with a deeper appreciation of the importance of dignity, participation, and safeguarding in all aspects of their work and with a renewed commitment to supporting communities in ways that are respectful, empowering, and transformative.