NewsHear Ed's 30 minute TV program that was filmed in NZ in Hawkes Bay TV...there are three
segments for his interview:
http://3gtvonline.com/main.php?g2_view=core%3AShowItem&g2_itemId=11073&g2_page=3
One of our consultants, Graeme Nicholas, has just returned from the Solomon Islands on a contract with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The assignment was to lead a one day workshop on strategic planning for the staff, volunteers and board of the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society, help establish a strategic planning work group and then offer the work group support and coaching for a couple of days as they began work.
Graeme has extensive experience working with organisations doing planning and drew on a combination of well known tools and original material he has developed over the years. In the Solomons he faced some particular challenges; working in the humid heat (mid 30s Celcius), introducing the idea and importance of strategic planning to some participants for the first time and choosing appropriate language and metaphors. Graeme helped the group to develop a comprehensive stakeholder map, begin an environmental scan and identify relevant reference documents and commitments.
The working group now has the job of managing stakeholder consultation that will include international organisations, government, local businesses and organisations and internal stakeholders (staff, board, volunteers, branches, member groups and programmes). It is a big job. The Solomons covers almost 1000 islands, has over 80 languages and lacks some of the communications and transport infrastructure many of us take for granted.
It will take several months for the group to work through the
consultation process, review the context and draft a planning document,
but being in the front line providing humanitarian, non-partisan
support to the vulnerable in a region that has experienced more than
its share of natural disaster and civil unrest makes this stimulating
and rewarding work.
10 December, 2008