How can co-creation lead to more successful projects? How do you avoid being tokenistic? How do you check your ego? When should you not co-create?

In this episode, you’ll hear from Madi Pollard-Shore, a Business Analyst at Girlguiding and a charity consultant.

You can find out more about Madi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-pollard-shore/

Or her website, Kalechi Consulting: https://www.kalechiconsulting.co.uk/

Contribute More is hosted by Zac Parsons. Find out more about him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zwparsons/

// REFLECTION

Have a conversation with a colleague about the extent to which you currently co-create with your service users. Could your work benefit from co-creation? What small projects do you have in the pipeline that could pilot co-creation?

// RESOURCES

Girlguiding: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/

// CHAPTERS

(0:00) Intro

(1:00) What is co-creation and inclusivity in decision-making?

(2:02) How does co-creation inclusivity help us contribute more to our cause?

(5:58) What are the alternatives to co-creation and why are they problematic?

(8:45) How do I deliver a co-creation project?

(11:45) Why recording learning is good, but using that learning is better

(14:08) How do you avoid being tokenistic in co-creation projects? How do you select a representative sample?

(18:32) Dealing with service users telling you your service isn’t good enough

(22:09) What types of projects aren’t appropriate for co-creation?

(30:10) Key takeaways

(27:54) Outro

(28:27) Reflection

How do you genuinely involve the community in project design, implementation, and monitoring? How do you avoid courtesy bias in needs assessments? How do you balance short-term needs with longer-term prosperity?

In this episode, you’ll hear from Olivia Barker White, a Co-Founder and the CEO of Kids Club Kampala.

You can find out more about Olivia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-barker-white-06102a17/

Or by following her on X: https://twitter.com/oliviambarker

Contribute More is hosted by Zac Parsons. Find out more about him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zwparsons/

// REFLECTION

Have a conversation with a colleague about how you involve key stakeholders. Do you think there are ways you could involve them more? Challenge yourself to consider whether you’re holding onto things you shouldn’t be because of ego or low expectations of your stakeholders.

// RESOURCES

Kids Club Kampala: https://www.kidsclubkampala.org/

For a summary of their independent evaluation: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/513cc55f82.html

Four phases of project management: https://hbr.org/2016/11/the-four-phases-of-project-management

// CHAPTERS

(0:00) Intro

(2:13) Why is a community-led approach important for Kids’ Club Kampala

(6:54) Importance of understanding the problem

(10:21) An overview of Kids’ Club Kampala’s approach to community-led development

(14:04) Balancing short- and long-term needs

(16:41) Solving for courtesy bias when performing needs assessments in international development

(19:54) Being community-led during the implementation of projects

(25:27) How to start being (more) community-led in your charity

(28:54) Outro

(30:10) Reflection