The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) recently completed its 2024 Conservation Management & Leadership (CML) workshop in Rwanda and received hugely positive feedback from the participants. Here, CLP staff (the workshop facilitators) share the key lessons learned and some participants share their thoughts on what underpins the success of workshops like this.
1. Preparation is key
Managing the complex logistics of our CML workshop – getting 20+ people from all over the world together in one place for ten days – would keep anyone up at night!
Thankfully, our Program Coordinator at WCS, Nathalia Santana, was well-prepared for the challenge. Her advice? “Start planning well in advance, delegate tasks to other team members, and use lessons learned from previous trainings.”
Along with the logistics, the training content and workshop facilitation had to be planned to perfection, too. This is where Dulce Espelosin, CLP Program Officer at WCS, took the reins. “Clear roles and responsibilities are essential for delivering content, ensuring all facilitators feel prepared and equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed,” says Dulce.
In this way, we were able to ensure our CML workshop was, as one of our participants described in an anonymous post-training survey, “well planned and organised perfectly”.
Another of our participants commented: “I think good planning and flexibility to adjust to what participants need are one of the most important factors in making a training successful. The CLP team does this very well and I am so impressed with how they planned and structured the CML training from the very beginning.”
2. Use a participatory approach
We used a participatory approach focusing on the needs and objectives of the participants (rather than the facilitators), reflecting CLP’s inclusive and collaborative values.
“I think the most important factor for a successful training is engagement,” says one of our CML participants. “The active participation and collaboration of participants allows the training material to be effectively absorbed and facilitates the sharing of ideas.”
The participatory approach requires open communication between the facilitator and participants, including the emphasis on inquiry and enabling anyone to ask questions at all times. Dulce explains, “Participatory training thrives on the knowledge and experiences of participants, where our role as facilitators is to listen, amplify all voices, and ensure the unheard are given space to share.”
One of the ways we created a participatory environment during our CML workshop was to ask our participants, before the training began, to create their own “Harmony Rules” to foster an inclusive, safe learning environment, as well as specify their expectations for the workshop.
“For a successful training, the first thing that should be considered is acceptance – everyone’s views should be heard.” – 2024 CML training participant
Also, during the training, our participants took turns at carrying out daily roles – including ‘Cat Herder’ and ‘DJ’ – and, at the end of each day, they presented visual summaries of what they had learned to the rest of the group.
All of our training sessions involved some sort of participatory activity, including small group exercises; brainstorming, role-playing and ‘hands-on’ demonstrative activities; and asking questions to encourage interactions from participants.
“Group activities and role-playing sessions made the lessons both enjoyable and memorable.” – 2024 CML workshop participant
The participatory approach was well-received by our participants, with survey respondents commenting: “The participatory and interactive methods of the training fostered learning”, “the training was excellent because of its participatory and interactive nature” and, “It was my first time attending such an interactive workshop, so the experience will have a special place in my journey as a conservationist.”
3. Energise, re-energise, repeat
To keep our participants engaged, Eleanor Glass, CLP Programme Officer at Fauna & Flora, brought a long list of ice breakers, energisers and re-energisers to dip into whenever we felt energy levels needed a boost (here are a few examples).
“I recommend incorporating plenty of fun activities that get participants out of their seats, moving around, and interacting in different ways,” says Eleanor.
We also kicked off each day of the training with a different energiser run by Kate Mastro, CLP Executive Committee member and Senior Program Manager at WCS. Activities included stretching and dancing to start the day with an energy lift, which proved popular among the participants.
“During the [CML] training, the breaks and energisers, especially those involving dancing and stretching, really helped me to reset and refresh my mind in preparation for further learning.” – 2024 CML training participant
4. Make time for downtime
During intensive training courses, we think it’s really important for participants (and facilitators) to have the chance to rest and recuperate as well as connect with each other in less formal and unstructured settings.
In the case of our CML workshop, after delivering the core training content during the day, we ensured there was free time in the evenings to do whatever we wanted. “In line with CLP’s values, we wanted to maintain a healthy work-life balance, so we ensured our participants had free time to relax, socialise with each other, and catch up with friends and families back home,” says Karla Hernandez-Aguilar, CLP Programme Officer at BirdLife.
The free time was rated as “Very Valuable” by all 15 of our survey respondents, with one commenting, “The [free time] was very important for reflections on lessons learned among ourselves, time for other activities like games, and time to chat with one another and families at home.”
Other extracurricular activities we organised were also rated as “Very Valuable” by all our survey respondents. These included a day trip to see the Endangered golden monkeys in the nearby Volcanoes National Park, and a Cultural Festival to share and celebrate the 20+ nationalities represented at the training.
As one survey respondent commented, “All these [extra activities] provided an option for recreation, time to share experiences and get to know each other.”
5. Evaluate and communicate
Last but not least, it’s crucial to understand exactly how the participants have benefited, along with what went well and what could be improved. “Not only does evaluating a training help report any impact to donors (and potential future donors) but it also helps guide the design and execution of the next training,” says Olivia Couchman, CLP’s Executive Manager.
We recommend undertaking a post-training survey in which participants are asked for their comprehensive feedback on all aspects. Crucially, we believe this feedback should be anonymous to ensure participants feel empowered to give candid responses.
It’s also advised to have a clear plan about what to do with the feedback once you receive it. “Don’t be shy about telling others about the outcomes of a training,” says Dulce. “Be transparent with colleagues, donors, and supporters about the lessons learned and the impact achieved – it’s the key to continuous improvement and growth.”
Feeling inspired?
We hope that these training tips contributed by CLP staff facilitators and our 2024 CML participants will help guide other workshops to effectively build the skills and knowledge of future conservation leaders. If these tips resonate with you and inspire you to implement them in your training, or have other ones to add to the list, let us know by connecting with us on social media or contacting us at clp@birdlife.org.
