About the DEI Learning Trajectory
This trajectory is a learning space about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in international collaboration, where organisations can share their challenges, needs, best practices, tools, and methods. We offer a dedicated space for DEI advocates and professionals in leadership positions, HR positions, or organisational activists willing to take concrete steps toward DEI strategies and contribute to a co-learning environment.
After the successful first trajectory in 2023, we’ll start a new trajectory in September 2024. We will use best practices and lessons learned from the first year of the DEI trajectory and will continue including bright insights from this year’s modules. The trajectory consists of different modules in which we invite DEI specialists to give masterclasses, training and facilitate exchange.
This is the preliminary program:
September/Ongoing – Designing & Championing DEI
This year we kick-off the trajectory with a Module on Designing and Championing DEI. Diversity Equity & Inclusion requires a tailored design for each organization. Think about strategy, assessment, indicators and monitoring progress, Recruitment, organizational culture. What does it take to design a tailored DEI strategy, how do we champion and what are indicators of success? We will explore this together with experienced DEI trainers.
What else? We have some big news: Partos will develop a DEI Organisational Checklist that can help NGOs assess and monitor their DEI practice and self-checklist to avoid ‘DEI-washing’ your DEI efforts. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requires a tailored design for each organisation. Consider strategy, assessment, indicators, progress monitoring, recruitment, and organisational culture.
October – Leveraging DEI in times of resistance and solidarity
We continue the trajectory by grounding our DEI and social practices in the current social and political dynamics. What is necessary for DEI professionals to feel confident to facilitate change processes, and deal with power dynamics within and outside their organisation? Through ‘train the trainer’ coaching sessions for DEI ambassadors we’ll get to the bone of this!
Learning objectives:
How might we build the capacity of DEI facilitators to feel more confident and equipped to address power dynamics, deal with resistance and build leverage to foster a DEI culture within their organisations?
- What is the influence of social trends (anti-rights movement, DEI hysteria) on DEI and social justice work?
- How to position yourself as a DEI advocate/professional.
- How to deal with Resistance from management & team.
- How to build leverage and increase support within your organisation.
November/Ongoing – Racial Justice
What is your racial justice practice? And how do we deal with experiences of racial injustice within this sector as white, or Black Indigenous and People of colour working in this sector? What (un)learning can you do to address or deal with racialised bias? And how does this translate to dominant beliefs and practices within international development?
Building on previous sessions, Partos will continue the facilitate the necessary safe spaces to unpack and confront racial justice in our individual and organisational practices within the context of international cooperation. These sessions will be guided by consultants with experience in facilitating processes of racial justice and organised in affinity groups to avoid unsafe dynamics.
Learning objectives:
How might we build sustainable racial justice practices within our organisations to increase leadership commitment to integrating racial justice into organisational policy and culture?
December – Mental Health & Wellbeing
A journey of introspection and wellbeing for social justice advocates and DEI professionals. Exploring somatic wellbeing, healing justice and the role of Mental health in building healthy organisational structures.
Learning objective:
How might we foster sustainable mental health practices and awareness for DEI facilitators (& their teams) so that they can integrate this on an individual level, and convince management of its importance.
Practicalities
The Partos Learning trajectory on DEI will start in September. With one session per month, we’ll end this trajectory in December. The content of the modules is tailored together with the participants and will be further developed in the first module. Read more about the trajectory below:
- No costs: The learning trajectory is entirely free of charge!
- We expect a commitment of 1 day per module (including the meeting time & internal organisational work).
- We encourage you to ask your team and management for support and resources to enable you to participate in this course, as we realise that DEI work is often voluntary.
- We kindly ask for your active participation in the trajectory. Why? The impact of this trajectory also depends on your participation, commitment, and exchange with other peers.
- Only one participant per organisation is allowed to register for the trajectory. Rotation or participation is possible within the different modules and activities.
- We aim to make our learning spaces inclusive, equitable, and safe for all. Respect, curiosity, and empathy are key. Disrespectful judgements and discriminatory behaviours are not welcome.
- To ensure the quality of learning, we choose to limit the number of participants. As a branch organisation, Partos will prioritise members and their (international) partners.
- To ensure equity in participation, we will strive for diversity and representation by reserving spots for people in rightsholder positions.
Registrations
Registrations are closed now. But if you want more information on the trajectory, feel free to contact Gigi at gigi@partos.nl.
