iCRA’s options for tailor-made trainings

iCRA’s tailor-made trainings are designed to integrate new concepts with practice in discovery-based reflection, planning and action learning cycles. Our learning services can be adapted to design one or a series of training workshop(s), followed by practice in the field (“action”) and on-the-job coaching.

To be able to design an effective capacity strengthening plan, iCRA first ascertains the capacity needs of to-be trained facilitators. We then offer three main ‘learning options’:

Single training event

This options consists of a (in-house) training workshop for individuals. The focus of such a workshop is on the acquisition of new concepts and skills. It ends with the formulation of an action plan on how to use the learnings in the field. This option is easily planned, short, and self-contained. However, participants will need to go through a reflection process themselves in order to consolidate learning after the practical application of the new concepts in the field. 

One-week sprint

In a one-week sprint, iCRA’s trainers facilitate a full ‘learning cycle’ which includes the following stages:

  • A training workshop (e.g. 2 days, including preparation for the next stage).
  • Practical application of the newly acquired skills by participants that are exposed to a real field case (e.g. 2 days).
  • A joint reflection session (e.g. 1 day) where all participating facilitators reflect upon the experiences gained.

With this option, iCRA’s trainers support participants to consolidate their learning and help to refine action plans based on actual experience and practical application. The time for reflection is however still relatively short and based on minimal field exposure. 

Learning cycles trajectory

Finally, iCRA offers the option to facilitate a series of learning cycles. For each learning cycle, iCRA trainers deliver:

  • An introductory workshop (each of e.g. 3-5 days) around particular modules or themes. These sessions bring together a number of facilitators within a particular country or region to kick-of the learning cycle with a training workshop.
  • On-the-job field coaching. Following the training workshops, the participating facilitators use their newly acquired competences during work sessions with their own agricultural partnership actors. iCRA’s trainers join at least one of these session in the field to observe and coach the facilitators on-the-job.
  • A review and reflection session. After a period of practical application of new concepts in the field, the participants all come together again to share and assess their experiences and consolidate lessons learned. This session is usually immediately followed by the new learning block, initiating the next learning cycle in the series, when this process is repeated.

This option and the ‘learning blocks’ involved can be increasingly tailor-made and adjusted during the process. With this learning option iCRA can deliver a more complete, embedded and iterative learning process. iCRA has extensive experience with this option in the 2SCALE project.