fflh.no/dialog/S6584a-mdg.html

A note for the MDG-meeting at Voksenåsen 23/3-10

The conclusion of Gunnar Myrdal:

- - - should be aware of the fact that very much of these economic theories are partly rationalizations of the dominant interest in the advanced and rapidly progressing industrial countries…it…would be pathetic if the young social scientists of the under-developed countries got caught in the predilections of the thinking in the advanced countries, which are hampering the scholars there in their efforts to be rational but would be almost deadening to the intellectual strivings of those in the under-developed countries. I would instead wish them to have the courage to throw away large structures of meaningless, irrelevant and sometimes blatantly inadequate doctrines and theoretical approaches and to start out from fresh thinking right from their needs and their problems. This would then take them far beyond the realm of both out-moded Western liberal economics and Marxism. (cited from John Jones’ folder for the MDG-meeting March 23, 2010)

The conclusion of Danny Burns:

It is quite extraordinary that we continue to produce plans when we know that they will be out of date by the time they are published; we continue to validate linear cause-and-effect explanations of highly complex social phenomena even though we know that they cannot be so simply explained; we spend vast amounts of time in' decision-making meetings' to formalise decisions that have been made elsewhere; we disseminate our organisational knowledge through long reports that we know do not get read; and we base our democratic practices on a mythical notion of representativeness. It is not that these practices are absurd in theory, only that as soon as they hit reality they implode. Systemic action research is based on different assumptions and offers a robust alternative.

(Systemic Action Research. A strategy for whole system change. The Policy Press, 2007)

The conclusion of Peter Senge:

create a sustainable world by building Learning Organisations

( “The necessary revolution”, N. Brealey Publ. 2008)

A couple of principles for practical actions (development of reforms etc.)

* Equal dignity (likeverd) is seen as the integrated sum of the different Human Rights and an ultimate goal

* Participatory methods with learning and action may serve as a common process model of any kind of positive human cooperation. Reflecting on equal dignity ethics does it much easier to follow the principles in practice.

* True democracy will require smooth flows of relevant information (data and reflected values) between the stakeholders - creating mutual understanding through barriers against violence and corruption of any kind.

Examples of best practice

Our mini NGO - The Foundation for Local Health Trials (FFLH) - inspired by John Jones in 1993 - has since then tried to promote participatory learning and action used as decision making processes in developing practical solutions. These aim to empower the grassroot as well as the staff in the relevant organisations. We contributed to a national network of interested people now merging with other groups in Norsk Dialog.

With regard to practice, however, the progress in Norway seems too, too slow. The few good examples have not been understood and valued as they deserve. Our understanding and hope have however been kept alive through international contacts and discussion lists.

FFLH will today point to the two evolving major programs of which previous history we have followed for years as we know the main trainers very well.

From April 15^th we will organize a week silver collection among ordinary Norwegian citizens to support two programs for building Learning organizations. They have high but realistic aspirations:

* One in India led by Varun Vidarthy at www.manavodaya.org.in in Uttar Pradesh. They will select an aspirant to be an educated facilitator from each village. Then supply them with basic knowledge of facilitation. And lastly: make the Manavodaya institute a node in the facilitators peer network in the region. The facilitators will there collectively reflect on their experiences and be motivated to enjoy their lifelong learning. Also both the Manavodaya and the network will keep authorities informed about their activities and help with cooperation between villages. This programme relate to the sum of MDGs. But the villages will themselves choose (indirectly) if they want to stress one or a few of them. But selfhelp groups for microfinance may become the usual starting point for most.

* One in Tanzania by Ruth Nesje at the Tanga International Conference Centre (TICC), see www.meetingpointtanga.net . Her programme is part of Tanga Regional Development Coalition dealing with MDG 4 and 5 (child mortality and maternal health). It starts with Norwegian and Tanzanian nurse students interviewing pregnant women and mothers with new babies finding some important issue to improve in each household. They have chosen to start in the poorest villages and build in continued follow up. Thus more people in the village participate in some way in the discussions. Eventually some aspirants for facilitator education can be found. She or he will be assumed the right person both by the villagers and the trainer. Though the point of entrance is much more spesific in this Tanzanian case than in the Indian one we will see that eventually in both cases the concrete tasks to be decided upon may be spesific for each village. In due time a similar network of facilitators as planned around Manavodaya will be natural.

FFLH has supported these two initiatives for a long time through discussions. Recently we have contributed financially with good effects. Calculating of how much benefit say 10 000 NOK may yield in these countries (in relation to what benefit they can yield in Norway) with these administrative skilled trainers we will start a weeks of silver collection among Norwegian common persons and families the week 15-21 April (then see fflh.no). It will be a grassroot to grassroot solidarity campaign.

However we may help larger firms to make 3 years deals of larger donations (say similar to what The Ulstein Group has given a certain beneficiary.) This will greatly help longtime planning and widen the catchment areas – more people will be served.

Truls W Gedde-Dahl

leder, Fondet for Lokale helseforsøk, Høgåsveien 68, 1259 Oslo

Organisasjonsnr. 977 142 903 Tlf. 22625646 (tal tydelig), sms 97177278

NB: Mari-Ann Korssjøen has developed a Learning Organisation www.fflh.no/tutu/Trondheim08-engl-short-S6295.html