How it works How it works: Participatory Video and the Most Significant Change Technique 1. Baseline Participatory Video process At the beginning of an M&E cycle beneficiary community members and staff involved in project delivery are given the opportunity to take part in a Participatory Video (PV) process and to make their own film. PV games are used in tandem with experiential and action-based learning tools to encourage group cohesion. The group is supported in using the camera to explore and document key issues faced by their community. 2. Midline Collection of Most Significant Change (MSC) stories Halfway through the M&E cycle, stories of Most Significant Change are collected through structured story circles. One story from each circle is selected as most significant. This is video recorded as a testimony and may be acted out as a drama. 3. Evaluation Identification of key themes + selection of MSC stories The stories collected during the midline phase are analysed by participants. Key themes are identified and stories are grouped according to domains of change. These video stories are then screened to different audiences who discuss the stories and identify which are most significant for them. 4. Dissemination Sharing of findings The findings are shared in project appropriate ways that maximise opportunities for feedback and learning. Each project, and its context, is different, and no two PV MSC processes will be the same. Every InsightShare project is specifically tailor-made to fit with local circumstances and to meet our partners needs. This outline is intended to give an overview of the way we use PV with MSC without being proscriptive. It describes how we use PV with MSC in a capacity building context, over 3 or 4 distinctive visits/stages.
PV training 1. Baseline Participatory Video process A small group of trainees is selected. This group usually combines members of the beneficiary community with staff from the organisation delivering the project being evaluated (the partner organisation). This group is trained as PV facilitators, with capacity to support the process of collective film making. As well as gaining technical filming skills, trainees learn a plethora of experiential and action-based learning tools that will allow them to place the decision-making processes and all aspects of the video making into the hands of the groups they work with. They are introduced to different ways of communicating ideas to audiences and final videos may combine testimony with drama and reportage. PV in the community The trainees carry out a field placement in one of the communities participating in the project. The community is selected based on a number of criteria in order to generate the most useful data-set for long term M&E. A Participatory Video (PV) is made by the community, facilitated by the trainees with support from InsightShare trainers. This process can be replicated in more than one community, allowing for comparison over space as well as time. Trainee facilitators use the camera games and the action-based learning tools they have learnt to help prioritise key issues to be included in the film. If participatory research has already been done by the partners and community, the findings could also be included in the film. TIMING: The baseline evaluation takes place during the early stages of project implementation in order to provide a comparison across time, i.e asking how things were in the beginning and how they changed by the end of a project. Editing The testimonies are then edited with varying levels of support from InsightShare facilitators. Where capacity building in editing has been built into the project, this stage allows trainees to develop their skills. Screening Community screenings provide unique opportunities for participants to gain insights, guidance and suggestions from their peers whilst simultaneously raising awareness of the project; its aims, scope and approach. They are opportunities to re-affirm consent and to create time to discuss the subjects covered in the video. Public screenings also give the ideal opportunity for trainees to talk with their communities about how the videos might be shared
2. Midline Collection of Most Significant Change (MSC) stories PV MSC training The same group of local trainee facilitators come together for the second phase of capacity building. During this stage they learn how to facilitate the collection of stories of change from their peers. What is MSC? The Most Significant Change is a way to do qualitative M&E through the collection of stories. (For more details on MSC, please see: http://tinyurl.com/d8s9lsm) Trainees learn: - An overview of Most Significant Change as an M&E method - what it is and how it works - How to facilitate MSC story collection - Further filming skills - Voting methods for selection of MSC stories in groups - Methods for noting MSC stories ( scribing ), when appropriate Note on domains: At this point in the training, it is also possible to choose key themes the evaluation aims to explore, these are called domains of change. These domains would be integrated into the MSC question as the topic for the change. In our experience however, we have found it more productive to leave the domains open and categorise the stories during the evaluation process (next page). TIMING: Collection of stories of Most Significant Change Collection of MSC stories undertaken during the implementation phase of a project to track progress. The PV trainee team is supported by InsightShare trainers as they travel to various communities to collect MSC stories. They work with groups of community members to form story circles. In these circles, each person answers the MSC question and the resulting stories are recorded as written notes (scribe notes) by the trainees supported to varying extents by the trainer. The story circle group then discusses each of the stories and decides which is the most significant to them and why? through discussion, which of the stories told is the most significant to them. This discussion is also recorded in scribe notes. Where burning issues emerge, the group records the opinions using video. The selected story is then recorded on video as a testimony. In some cases the group may also act out the story as a video recorded drama. Community 1 Community 2 Community 3 The MSC question: What has been the most significant change in your (life, village, house, etc) over the last (period of time)? Stories are collected in in a number of communities, working with different groups. The number of story circles and communities is variable according to project needs. The selected and recorded MSC stories from each story circle are screened back and are screened back and discussed, after which the participants have the opportunity to omit or amend their contributions. Editing The films made in the community are brought back to the workshop space where they are edited, either by the trainees themselves or by the InsightShare facilitators under the guidance of the trainees.
3. Evaluation Identification of domains + selection of MSC stories Organising MSC stories Stories are watched and verified. Any stories found to be un-truthful are eliminated at this stage Tagging All stories are tagged with keywords. These words are then used to sort the individual testimonies into domains of change. Sorting into domains Once the domains have been determined, videos are screened to various audiences who select the stories most significant to them within each domain. Screening and MSC selection Screening 1 screening 2 screening 3 Audience discussions around which story is most significant are recorded through scribe notes or using video. Video report Local trainees make their final video report. The selection process offers rich insights to the team of local trainee facilitators, who are themselves project beneficiaries. They have been involved throughout every stage; from the story collection, to the analysis, to the screenings. At this point they have a deep understanding of the themes explored in the videos. They distill their knowledge of the evaluated programme into a video report, which summarises their insights and learning from the whole process.
4. Dissemination Sharing of findings The project is concluded with the completion of a comprehensive written report by the InsightShare trainers involved in the project. This report describes the learning and conclusions that have emerged from the participatory M&E process and includes narratives descriptions, quotes and photographs of all project activities. Where communities and partners have consented to material being made public, films can be shared widely through a variety of channels. The dissemination strategy is decided on a project by project basis and might include the creation of on-line platforms or a general distribution of DVDs as well as the more focused dissemination of videos through targeted screenings. In some cases these screenings can be used as opportunites to continue the MSC process; by asking groups, both inside and outside of the participating communities and partner organisations, to select which stories are most significant for them, and why. Depending on the nature of the project, filmed stories of change may also be shared at festivals, exhibitions and conferences. The broader findings of the evaluation exercise, and learning from the field, can be shared through the creation of written articles and photostories, to complement the stories and insights that are shared through the videos. About InsightShare We are leaders in the use of Participatory Video as a tool for individuals and groups to grow in self-confidence and trust, and to build skills to act for change. Our Participatory Video methods value local knowledge, build bridges between communities and decision-makers, and enable people to develop greater control over the decisions affecting their lives. www.insightshare.org For more information contact Chris Lunch & Soledad Muniz info@insightshare.org