5-1. Planning Workshop on Non-Handicapping Environment in 2012 and beyond

The NHE Project engaged in a strategic planning process to set its future direction for the remaining months of the project and for scaling up non-handicapping environment (NHE) work in other areas in the country in close partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

The "Planning Workshop on NHE in 2012 and beyond" was a 2-day workshop held on January 17 and 18, 2012. The workshop was organized to serve as an arena for the participants to positively review the 3 and half year NCDA-JICA NHE Project activities and to develop team-work and action plan among fifteen (15) key officers of National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and DSWD in order to ensure sustainability and possible expansion of NHE through entire Philippines.

The workshop was designed to be "process-oriented" with participants' high involvement, and applied post-modern approaches for creative and positive team development, namely "Appreciative Inquiry (AI)*" and "Open Space Technology (OST)**". The two-day workshop yielded the following results: identified the key factors why Project NHE is succeeding; a list of wishes/enhancements in the project; sixteen (16) topics discussed anchored on the workshop theme "What courageous steps can we take to build an inclusive environment for everyone, considering the diversity of needs and conditions of all people?".

* Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is:

• A way of being that looks for strengths rather than weaknesses
• A source of inspiration, vision and creative thinking
• A way of being, seeing, and thinking
• A process for organizations to generate energy, ideas, strategies and momentum for transformational change
• An organization development model for facilitating positive change in human systems, e.g., organizations, groups and communities

** Open Space Technology (OST) is:

A process of facilitating dialogues that offers a powerful approach and allows people to operate with high levels of engagement, creativity and passion

To make the most of the time and expertise of the people at the workshop, the strategic planning core group chose to use these two change management approaches as the workshop methods, and to engage the undersign to assist in planning and facilitating the workshop to maximize the learning, insights and expertise of attendees as they define the road map plans Project NHE and its expansion.

The workshop highlighted the NHE action plan for 2012 and beyond for sustainability which identified 3 priority areas:

1. Database (Profiling, Mapping, Monitoring and Evaluation);
2. Empowerment of all Stakeholders; and
3. Advocacy. It was an opportunity for counterparts and stakeholders to have a strategic conversation on the future NHE.

Another objective that was met and brought about by using AI and OST was greater teamwork and solidarity among and between NCDA, DSWD and JICA-NHE project management team.

Participants generated various outputs including success stories, topics and discussion related the NHE theme and action plan for the NHE expansion.

Presentation on NHE Project at its "Best" and our "Wishes" during the workshop

Participants write compelling stories and peak experiences

Participants share Stories of Success on NHE

Presentation of Theme/Big Question by counterpart

Participants selected 3 priorities for action plan