Learning communities on Systems Thinking

Introduction to Sensemaker decision-making tool

08/04/13

Dates: Flexible (Registration deadline 26 April)
Type of event: Online training course (3 months)
Location: Global/Online
Organization: Cognitive Edge
More information: http://cognitive-edge.com/education/events/680/introduction-to-sensemaker-environment/

This is a self-paced introduction to SenseMaker® - a technique for dealing with uncertainty and complexity - as applied to team, organizational, marketplace or environment issues and opportunities. While it is not facilitator-led, participants will have opportunities to learn from and collaborate online with others. The course materials consist of a series of specially made videos, podcasts and documents that take learners through the process of working with SenseMaker®, introduce the important terms and key concepts, and illustrate typical results.

Monitoring and Evaluating When Facing Complexity: Perspectives From a Practitioner-Led Initiative

05/04/13

Date: 25 April 2013
Type of event: Webinar
Location: Global/Online
Organization: USAID/Microlinks
More information: http://bit.ly/14IDzDm

Changes in markets are not predictable and often surprising, even after thorough market analysis and strategic planning. This creates specific challenges for monitoring and evaluation of development interventions. The webinar session will feature insights from the SEEP Network’s Systemic M&E Initiative, a practitioner-led initiative supported by USAID and fhi360 that has been exploring innovative ways to monitor and evaluate interventions in market and financial systems.

Leadership and organizational development training courses

06/04/12

Dates: Various, during October and November 2012 ( NB: Application deadline for EU grants is 30 April 2012)
Type of event: Training course
Location: Various: Copenhagen (Denmark), Linz (Austria) and Gouda (The Netherlands)
Organization: In Dialogue
More information: http://www.in-dialogue.org/index.php?pagina=open-courses

In Dialogue, an international training consultancy based in Denmark and the Netherlands, offers various open international courses. All of them are based on positive relational approaches to change and learning. These courses are open to anyone who has an interest in the subjects and are open to some funding options (to cover board, lodging, course fees and travel) of the European Commission; Comenius programme for secondary education staff and the Grundtvig programme for adult education staff.

"Do No Harm" Exposure Workshop and Training of Trainers (ALNAP)

22/03/12

Dates: 02 to 06 April 2012
Type of event: Training workshop (NB: This is a paid course)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Organization: ALNAP/CDA Collaborative Learning Projects
More information: http://www.alnap.org/members/173.aspx

The Do No Harm (DNH) Program seeks to identify the ways in which international humanitarian/development assistance given in conflict settings may be provided so that, rather than exacerbating and worsening the conflict, it helps local people disengage from fighting and develop systems for settling the problems which prompt conflict within their societies. DNH concepts are widely used in humanitarian and development programs, but have increasingly been incorporated into other fields as well.

Do No Harm Exposure Workshop (April 2-3, 2012) Provides a broad exposure to the lessons learned by Do No Harm and the concepts and elements of the DNH Framework. It raises awareness that humanitarian assistance can exacerbate conflict. It also raises awareness that a tool exists to recognize and understand the patterns of assistance in conflict, and that through identifying the patterns, we can identify options for addressing these issues.

Do No Harm Training of Trainers (April 2-6, 2012) Presents the same content as the Exposure workshop and then builds upon that with sessions on teaching adults, case study methodology and practice training sessions. Participants in the Training of Trainers should have prior experience with DNH.

1st Summer Institute on global poverty and inclusive development

10/03/12

Date: 24-25 April 2012
Type of event: Specialized training programme
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Organization: University of Amsterdam
More information: www.gsss.uva.nl/sip

There is an increasing urgency to understand the conditions of poverty, the dynamics of poverty, and the complexities involved in embarking upon more inclusive development trajectories. The Summer Institute on Global Poverty & Inclusive Development contributes to the growing worldwide interest among academics and professionals in the causes of poverty and its alleviation. Classes are taught by Dr. Deepa Narayan, an internationally known expert on poverty and author of Voices of the Poor and Moving out of Poverty in close cooperation with Dr. Nicky Pouw, co- author of Local Governance and Poverty in Developing Nations (with Isa Baud).

Climate change governance: Adaptation and mitigation as institutional change processes

11/01/12

Dates: 30 January - 12 February, 2012
Type of event: Training workshop
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands
Organization: Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation

The impact on food production, food security and natural resources in developing countries by climate change is likely to be severe. This course offers conceptual frameworks to understand climate change, vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation options that bring together different stakeholders such as policymakers, scientists, communities, citizens, farmers, extension workers, media and businesses.

NB: The application deadline for this course is 15th January (Apply online)

Free webinars on equity-focused evaluations

06/10/11

Dates: Various, October to December 2011
Type of event: Webinar
Location: Online
Organization: My M&E portal

My M&E, an open learning portal that supports knowledge-sharing on country-led M&E systems worldwide, is convening a series of free webinars on equity-focused evaluations by respected experts in this field.

Upcoming sessions in October and November will cover, respectively: case study and equity in evaluation (Saville Kushner); programme theories and logframes to evaluate pro-poor and equity programmes (Patricia Rogers and Richard Hummelbrunner); and systems thinking for equity-focused evaluations (Bob Williams and Martin Reynolds).

Mastering wicked problems: Alan Fowler Master Seminar Series hosted by INTRAC

16/08/11

Dates: 20-21 October, 2011
Type of event: Training course
Location: National Council of Voluntary Organisations, London UK
Organization: International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC)

Successful NGOs overcome ‘wicked’ problems. These are critical issues and dilemmas for the whole organisation that have multiple, interdependent causes. Potential solutions are many, but they are seldom obvious or amenable to assured implementation. Yet, effective leadership and management find ways to surmount such problems and motivationally communicate a way forward. This capability is vital for maintaining social value and durability.

Open courses on relational approaches to change and learning

29/04/11

Dates: Various

Type of event: Training (Please note that these are paid courses although limited EU funding is available)

Location: Copenhagen (Denmark) and Gouda (Netherlands) 

Organization: In Dialogue

In Dialogue offers four different open international courses in 2011. All of them are based on positive relational approaches to change and learning. These courses are open to anyone who has an interest in the subjects and are open to some funding options (to cover board, lodging, course fees and travel) of the European Commission; Comenius programme for secondary education staff and the Grundtvig programme for adult education staff.

Announcing systems thinking webinars

21/01/11

Systems Thinking World will begin hosting a free webinar series from the first week of February 2011. Webinars are expected to be 60 to 90 minutes in length with several Q & A segments included. For each webinar a discussion will be established within Systems Thinking World on LinkedIn. This will provide participants a forum for submitting webinar feedback as well as follow up on additional questions regarding the webinar.