conflict resolution in west africa hmi

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Resolving Conflict inWest Africa – A Practice

Jeff Goebel

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SANREM Project – US AID

West Africa - Madiama Commune, Mali Farmer-based Research Holistic Management / Conflict Resolution 4 years 5 trips – 10 workshops Low budget

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Core Conflict Resolution Tools

Grounding Greeting Circle Adaptive Learning Worst / Best / Possibility Thinking A Consensus Building Process

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The CircleIF YOU:

LISTEN WITH RESPECT...UNDERSTANDING,

TRUSTING,LEARNING,

A NEW PERSPECTIVEGROWING,

RESOLVINGADAPTING

WILL RESULT.

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Grounding

Establishes a model for listening w/ respect, a knowing that each person will be heard. 

Establishes a verbal territory for each participant, a sense of potential equity 

Requires access to both the left & the right brain, engaging the "whole brain”. 

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Grounding (cont’d)

Allows apprehensions & hopes for the meeting to be expressed. 

Allows participants to express hidden agendas (like leaving early, a flat tire, a sickness, etc.) 

Brings people into the "here and now” Provides initial information to the facilitator.  

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Greeting Circle

Adapted from American Indian culture Flesh-to-flesh connections – the human element Potentially equalizes power African learning – create “friendships” before

resolving conflict

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Adaptive Learning HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION? WHAT DID YOU LEARN THAT WILL.....

           MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL?

           RESOLVE THE CONFLICT?

           RESOLVE THE IMPASSE?

           ETC.

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Worst Possible Outcomes

These are feared future outcomes, often based on past experience, w/ a presently experienced emotion & physical reaction. When people believe them, they affect their perceptions, beliefs, values & strategies. They tend to be self-fulfilling prophecies when strongly held.

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Best Possible Outcomes

These are hoped for future outcomes, sometimes not previously experienced, but intensely imagined, w/ a presently experienced emotion & physical response. When people believe them, they affect their perceptions, beliefs, values & strategies. They tend to be self-fulfilling prophecies when strongly held.

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Possibility Thinking

An acknowledgment that both worst & best outcomes are present & inherent in each moment, up to, & often after the event. This balanced view allows the movement toward desired outcomes.

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A Consensus Building Process WHAT IS THE SITUATION? HOW DO I FEEL

ABOUT IT? WHAT ARE MY WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

OF THE SITUATION? WHAT ARE MY BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF

THE SITUATION? WHAT BELIEFS / BEHAVIORS / STRATEGIES /

ACTIONS WILL FOSTER THE BEST OUTCOMES?

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Change Process

Results – satisfied? Modificational Change

ActionsStrategies

Transformational ChangeBehaviorsBeliefs

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Human Problem Solving - Doing the Impossible

B _ D

Vanna White Effect

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THE REASONS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY BY 50% WITHOUT CHEMICAL

FERTILIZERS We don’t like to work hard The soil is too poor The average farmer has no other ideas besides

chemical fertilizer that could increase production that radically. If there is such a thing, we don’t know about it.

Can’t be done without chemical fertilizer because there isn’t enough rain, and the soil is too poor

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GIVEN THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY BY 50% WITHOUT CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS?

Parking animals on the land to accumulate manure Rotation Leguminous trees (Acacia albida) Contour barriers (lines of stones along the contour) Fallow Intercropping grains and leguminous plants OR

mixing small patches of different crops

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29 deaths in 1993 in region in one incident

No violent conflict after two years of this work as reported by Malian Rural Sociologist

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Workshop themes

Conflict resolution introduction Resolving one-on-one conflicts Scarcity related issues Power related issues Evaluation Resolving real conflicts Managing diversity

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More information

Visit website at: www.aboutlistening.comStoriesVisuals

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Your turn: Adaptive Learning

How do you feel about this presentation? What did you learn that will help you be

successful in understanding and practicing holistic decision making?