Build strong projects through co-creation

Creating solutions, projects, or strategies that everyone agrees on isn't easy. Neither is working across diverse stakeholders to build engagement for a new direction. However, with the right level of involvement or co-creation, you can achieve both, and do so effectively.

While the terms input, involvement, and co-creation are often used interchangeably, there are significant differences between these three forms of collaboration. Therefore, here's an overview of these three forms, their application, and benefits.

The collaboration progresses in three stages. The higher we go, the more the relevant stakeholders contribute, acting as co-creators of the work. Co-creation is at the top level and is often most effective when the goal is to develop a direction that those affected by - or impacting - an initiative have ownership of. Let's take a closer look at all three:

Input

Relevant stakeholders contribute perspectives but do not actively participate beyond providing input. They exit the process after contributing their perspectives.

Characteristics:

• Dialogue-driven

• Low collaboration

• Limited involvement beyond providing input
  

Input is relevant for:

• Gaining insights into how, for example, an initiative might be received

• Situations where external perspectives and opinions are desired to inform a decision-making process, but not necessarily contribute to further development

Involvement

Relevant stakeholders are sporadically involved. They provide input or expertise at specific times, such as when expert involvement is necessary. They participate in parts of the design phase and may contribute to prioritization or decision proposals, but the involvement is not continuous from initiation through development, implementation, and evaluation.

Characteristics:

• Dialogue and/or collaborative-driven

• Alternating involvement

• Input or expertise contributions at specific times
  

Involvement is relevant for:

• Situations where external stakeholders can add value by providing knowledge or skills at critical times

• Projects where priorities and decision proposals can be improved and better anchored with diverse perspectives at the knowledge, development, or prioritization levels
  

Co-Creation

Relevant stakeholders are integrated throughout the development process, and both actors who can influence and be influenced by the solution are involved in the development. The actors co-own the process by building a common understanding and co-creating solutions, projects, and implementation plans. They also participate in evaluating the success of the effort. Characteristics:

• Integrated collaboration

• Common understanding, development, and co-ownership

• Collaboration through a process focusing on understanding, prioritization, and concrete development (ideally with testing and further development)
  

Co-creation is relevant for:

• Complex challenges or projects with diverse perspectives and stakeholders

• Situations where deep and common understanding and ownership among stakeholders are crucial for the project's success

• Efforts where the aim is to deliver solutions faster, implementing and improving continuously

• Challenges being addressed by multiple organizations but lack a strengthened collective effort that leverages knowledge and resources across them

• Projects where democracy and empowerment are desired outcomes
  

The three forms of involvement serve different purposes and are used at different times. Involvement, especially co-creation, can provide a wide range of positive outcomes beyond an efficient process where all relevant stakeholders come together and develop.

Five effects of co-creative development:

1. Solutions with enhanced understanding and empathy for those impacted by the effort.

2. Better solutions because the process involves mutual learning and innovation across stakeholders.

3. Reduces resistance during implementation because stakeholders have developed deep ownership.

4. Expansion of resources when implementing efforts due to more partners involved in task execution and citizens/users contributing to spreading awareness of the effort.

5. Adaptive interventions due to learning-based implementation, where continuous development and testing occur (which saves additional resources on "failed attempts").
   

(Source: Co-Creation for Sustainability. Ansell, Sørensen, Torfing, 2022)

Curious about which approach is right for the project or strategy you're working on? And do you want to discuss more about the value of bringing together relevant stakeholders? Feel free to reach out for a non-committal chat.

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How do we create new policy with civil society?

CHALLENGE

Aarhus Municipality was facing the task of developing a new LGBT+ policy and action plan, lacking a clear structure to involve relevant stakeholders, particularly from civil society. While a few workshops had been conducted, a more practical approach was needed to translate the stakeholders' knowledge into policy proposals and action plans.

APPROACH

To meet Aarhus Municipality's needs, ReSearch Humanity facilitated a development workshop for cross-sector initiatives in the children and youth sector. Additionally, we supported and upskilled the municipality's own employees to conduct a series of similar sessions afterwards, focusing on health, urban safety, collaboration among associations, etc.

The held development workshop particularly focused on developing LGBT+ policies for the school sector. We brought together school leaders, citizens, the municipality's representatives from the children and youth sector, and representatives from organizations such as Sex & Samfund, Sabaah, and Everyday Sexism Project.

Based on various exercises aimed at leveraging the stakeholders' knowledge and experiences, participants provided concrete inputs and developed solution proposals. The focus was on translating valuable knowledge into concrete policy measures

"We could see that Aarhus Municipality saved time in both formulation and implementation because the right stakeholders were involved from the beginning. The framework contributed to effectively utilizing the knowledge of schools, administration, and organizations in the development process, leading to solutions that worked across their needs." - Karoline Barkvoll Holstad, CEO, ReSearch Humanity

The mix of stakeholders created significant value in the development process. School leaders could articulate the barriers they experienced in their schools, and civil society actors could contribute extensive expertise on the target group: children and youth in the LGBT+ segment. Finally, the administration could identify opportunities for connections between the two perspectives and translate barriers and opportunities into policy.

RESULT

First and foremost, the project has created a structure and framework for effectively involving stakeholders in the municipality's policy development work. Aarhus Municipality has received a report with comprehensive knowledge from the development session and recommendations for involving relevant stakeholders.

The held development session not only provided concrete policy proposals but also served as the starting point for subsequent development sessions. As a result, the project has empowered the municipality's employees to continue gathering the right stakeholders, facilitating a space for effective development, and most importantly, moving from knowledge and ideas to concrete policy proposals.

Moreover, the inclusive approach has helped build ownership for the policy work among the participants. Ultimately, they save time in formulating and implementing policies thanks to involving the right stakeholders from the outset.

Do you also want to transform knowledge from a broad stakeholder group into concrete solutions? We are ready to help you move forward. Contact us here, and we'll have a non-committal conversation.

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How do we establish common direction and clear division of tasks in an NGO?

"Through an inclusive process, we have had important conversations within the leadership, among employees, and volunteers, which has contributed to strengthening our shared narrative. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend ReSearch Humanity to others." - Amma Asare-Nyako, Secretary General at Sabaah

CHALLENGE

Sabaah advocates for the rights and opportunities of ethnic minority LGBT+ individuals in Denmark. The organization reached out to ReSearch Humanity seeking assistance in systematizing and establishing a clear direction for their work.

Specifically, they sought help in further developing their organizational strategy and ensuring clearer division of tasks between the secretariat and the board.

APPROACH

In the process of creating a clear direction and clearer division of tasks, we collaborated with Sabaah over two sessions or workshops, each lasting respectively half a day and a full day.

One workshop involved the board, the secretary general, and the executive director in Aarhus. Here, we focused particularly on the overall direction for the organization and strengthened collaboration between the board and the secretariat by reimagining the division of tasks.

Another workshop involved employees, volunteers, and the board. Here, we worked through the strategic objectives, prioritized between areas of focus, and operationalized them.

By involving all layers of the organization, we effectively work on development and ensure that ownership of the strategic direction isn't solely vested in the leadership. We ensure broad organizational consensus, and with our external perspective, we can identify the social and work-related dynamics that the group may be entrenched in.

We ensure to create a space that accommodates everyone. Opponents of certain ideas or the general direction also participate in developing the strategy. Often, opponents end up becoming active collaborators, thereby helping the group find common ground. This results in a strategy deeply rooted within the organization, leading to happy participants who can more easily find common ground in the future.

OUTCOME

Throughout the process, Sabaah has achieved greater consensus and unity within the organization. They have established a clear division of work between the board and the secretariat. In this regard, the secretariat has gained more autonomy in their daily tasks, and board members have taken ownership of specific areas of work. This will help the organization work more efficiently in the future and make the most of the resources available to them.

"I learned a lot about Sabaah as an organization today. Thanks for an exciting workshop." - Workshop participant

Several participants describe afterward that the process has given them "hope" for the organization's future and further work. Volunteers have also learned more about the organization and gained new energy to continue working with the target group.

"I was energized and inspired by all the great inputs and ambitions and by the super cool facilitation." - Workshop participant

In this case, Sabaah has achieved both a clearer structure and division of their work, laid out a two-year strategy, and specified tasks accordingly. Additionally, they have gained insights into methods for facilitation and strategy development that they can utilize in their ongoing work.

"We have experienced a high level of professionalism and an understanding of the context in which we operate. It has made us feel safe and supported in the process." - Amma Asare-Nyako, Secretary General at Sabaah

Developing a strategy with involvement and co-creation across the organization requires specialized facilitation and can contribute to creating a shared narrative, ownership, and less friction within the organization.

Do you need help developing a strategy that is widely anchored in your organization and based on current challenges for your work? Reach out to us, and let's see if we are the right partner for you.

Contact ReSearch Humanity