Facilitating Multi Stakeholder Processes and Social Learning Herman Brouwer/ Karèn Verhoosel Centre for Development Innovation Mindsets and Paradigms Visit://portals.wi.wur.nl/msp//portals.wi.wur.nl/msp

Basketball video How many times do the people in the white shirts throw the ball to each other?

A way of seeing is always a way of not seeing In other words… When we affirm a reality, we deny another one

How we perceive reality Supression Generalization Distorsion Filters we use to make sense of the world Visual – Sight Auditive – sound Kinestesic – Touch, sensations Olfative – smell Gustative – taste Factual Rational Irrational Inferential 10 % 90 %

The meaning of Paradigm In 1900, Lord Kelvin famously stated, "There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now. All that remains is more and more precise measurement." Five years later, Albert Einstein published his paper on special relativity, which challenged the very simple set of rules laid down by Newtonian mechanics, which had been used to describe force and motion for over three hundred years.Lord KelvinAlbert Einsteinspecial relativityNewtonian mechanics

Kuhn’s Definition of Paradigms “an entire constellation of beliefs, values and techniques, and so on, shared by the members of a given community”

In Other Words Mindsets Worldview Belief system Mental models Underlying assumptions

Let’s Debate! – YES or NO? Rural development is mainly an issue distribution of wealth Rural farmers know very well how to increase production World poverty can only be solved by rich countries Sustainability and biodiversity do not marry with economic growth Everyone will serve his individual purpose first

The depth of assumptions What we see in terms of how decision-making takes place That which directly influences management decision-making Deep drivers of our behavior and the choices that we make

Competing Mental Models (Paradigms) Right politics Capitalism Positivist ideas about knowledge Economic Rationalism Humans are selfish Planned intervention Left politics Communism Constructivist ideas about knowledge Institutional Economics Humans are altruistic Process interventions

Paradigms in development What have been important local, and global events in development over the past 50 years? What were trends in development? What have been underlying paradigms?

Paradigms in development from Technological EraParticipatory EraInstitutional Era Top down driven extension Technological innovations e.g. CGIAR, green revolution Bottom-up processes Social innovations e.g. PRA, Robert Chambers Multi-stakeholder, level, scales Systemic, political innovations e.g. co- management, Value Chains, PPPs s 1980-… …… Based on Woodhill (2009), Institutional innovation and stakeholder engagement

Shifting Focus of Development Scale localnational Nature of Development Technical Political Roads Schools Services Ag productivity Infrastructure ‘good governance’ good governance Policy influencing Citizen accountability Participatory Development Decentralisation

Paradigms of different stakeholders How do different stakeholders think about development? Who counts? Who should be in the driver’s seat? NGOs/CBOs Central Government Local Government Private sector Donors

The paradigm paradox We need our paradigms to make sense of the world; nonetheless and as a result of this, we find ourselves entrapped and constrained Dana Zohar, 1997

Suspending our judgement Consciuosly identifyng our mindsets and paradigms Come to know them, understand where they are coming from, and not judge them as good or bad This will allow for greater understanding of others’ mindsets. Thus becoming the departing point for a generative dialogue to happen where a group of differents may achieve a shared understanding about things

Link with MSPs Different underlying assumptions lead to very different strategies for bringing about change It is not about being right or wrong, but about understanding each others ‘iceberg’ Assumptions are often taken for granted and not made explicit Assumptions are culturally embedded Explaining why you do, think or say something by making explicit your underlying assumptions and deep drivers In order to start dialogue and working towards the common goal

In thinking about whole system change …… Ethics Assumptions and Beliefs Concepts and Approaches Methodologies Tools and techniques Intervention Logic Pathway Whole System Change Relationship Pathway Paradigms

At the initiation and … throughout Collaborative Action Adaptive Planning Initiating Reflective Monitoring

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