Strategy and Planning | Freire Institute

Paulo Freire’s philosophy of education has had a profound impact on people throughout the world working for social change. His work has been applied not only to formal educational settings but to many diverse social movements.

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Price: GBP 250.00

Strategy and Planning

Effective tools for strategic thinking and action

Developing   strategic plans   for effective and inclusive action

Strategic planning is often treated as a technical exercise: reviewing data, setting objectives, identifying actions, assigning responsibilities, and producing a plan. These activities are important, but strategy is also a process of interpretation and choice. Organizations must decide what matters most, how they understand the environment in which they operate, whose knowledge should inform those decisions, what assumptions they are making, and which possibilities they are prepared to pursue. This participatory workshop approaches strategy and planning as a process of collective inquiry, critical analysis, dialogue, decision-making and action . Drawing upon Paulo Freire’s emphasis on...

How can we develop strategies that are clear enough to guide action, participatory enough to draw upon the knowledge of those involved, and flexible enough to learn from what actually happens?

The workshop does not suggest that every decision can or should be made by consensus. Organizations have different responsibilities, structures, constraints, and accountabilities. Instead, participants examine where participation can improve the quality, legitimacy, and implementation of strategy, while also considering how leadership and decision-making responsibility can be exercised transparently and accountably. Participants will work with practical tools for environmental analysis, stakeholder and power mapping, priority-setting, vision and goal development, theory of change, risk and assumption analysis, implementation planning, monitoring, and review. Throughout, the emphasis remains...

What you learn

Analyse the relationship between organizational purpose, values, current practice and strategic priorities, distinguishing strategy from operational planning and routine activity.
Analyse an organizational or professional environment using appropriate evidence and analytical frameworks, and evaluate the interests, knowledge, influence and potential contribution of relevant stakeholders.
Develop and critically compare alternative strategic options in relation to purpose, expected impact, feasibility, equity, resources, risks, trade-offs and underlying assumptions.
Develop and justify an adaptable strategic plan that translates priorities into coherent goals, responsibilities, resources and indicators of progress, and incorporates meaningful participation, implementation, reflection and revision.

Availability

For organizations: This workshop is available in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats to meet diverse organizational needs and preferences. We can tailor the focus to your specific institutional context.
For individuals: We will run occasional virtual workshops, and you are encouraged to join the notification list to be informed of upcoming dates.

Registration Options

Current ways to join this course

Email Signup

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Registration Options

Custom workshops for organizations

Duration

You will continue to be registered in the course area for 3 months following the workshop.

Course Certificate

You will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

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