Strength of After Action Reflection

[Autry Haynes]

This journey began in May 2011 when I return from the learning experience applying CLCP to WASH in Suriname. I was aware of a similar project in Guyana being implemented by Red Cross. Now I understand that it as a collaboration of the French and Guyana Red Cross project but that had ended but that a new phase was about to begin. A casual conversation with Xavier Zimmerman and Suparna Bera-Narine resulted in “We are interested in you making us, our Facilitators SALTy or learn the SPIRIT of SALT” Infusing the spirit of SALT was new to me, as much as I understand the SALT is about who you are as a SALT Facilitator. Over three days Maggie Schmeitz of Suriname and I were given the task of infusing this SPIRIT of SALT with ten Red Cross Facilitators who will, over 45 months working towards the goal “Sustainable sanitation and hygiene for all” in 28 indigenous communities of a remote region of Guyana. This was taking place ten months after that casual conversation. To achieve this feat, three key activities were done: [1] Fostering team spirit as a mean of SALT; [2] Stimulating a Way of Thinking SALT and [3] Sustaining the SALT spirit. Fostering the team spirit was achieved by an exercise “Ready Pull” - An exercise where participants are placed into groups and given a piece of paper. Each member of the group is required to have a hold on the paper and the Facilitator indicates when they should ALL pull on the paper. This action is done 2-3 times, using the largest piece of paper after tearing it apart from pulling the previous time. Then the BIG request! Kindly put the pieces back together? Members of each team work to put the pieces together to form the whole piece in the original state. The team that makes the best fit wins. A discussion ensues to ascertain what contributed to the group’s success. The reasons for the win constitute the strengths of the group. While the reasons for the other team not being successful would also highlight some strengths of that group, as well. The MAJOR lesson however is that “team effort and cooperation was needed to successfully put the pieces together.”

 

To achieve the stimulating Way of Thinking (WOT) SALT, two exercises from the Blended Learning proramme were used, viz:  15-question quiz about every day way of thinking and applying SALT; and the Self-Assessment framework on SALT.

In an effort to sustain the effort of spirit of SALT, the exercises dream building, self-assess and action planning were done with Facilitators.

The dream of the Facilitators was that with Super-attributes of “Strength, Confidence and Passion We implement WASH in a SALTy way to achieve sustainable WASH in communities.”

 

In an effort tp achieve their dream, they identified five important practices, viz: [1] Realistic Planning; [2] Improved Communication; [3] Motivation; [4] Self-Assessment; and [5] Team Work.

The Action plan

Priority Practice	Actions to meet the target	Who is responsible	How do we know we meet   the target
Realistic Planning	Team   meeting   Develop   checklist   Decide   on actions together   Setting   realistic schedule	A   L   L	Checklist After   Action Reflection Reports
Team work	-          Individual   SWOT -          Improved   communication -          Be   prepared to compromise -          Be   honest -          Be   open minded -          Team   building social activities -          Create   a sense of ownership	A   L   L	Mentioned   activities are systematically and continuously acted on!   Members   appreciate being a part of the team.
Self-Assessment	-          After   Action Review   -          Self   reflection   -          Performance   evaluation   -          Follow-up   training	Team   Personal   Employer   Employer	Defined   levels of competence;    Project   and performance Reports

 

Throughout the process After Action Reflection was encouraged after every activity. Following the SALT visit that was done, the AAR took 2.5 hours which was supposed to be 20 minutes maximum. Participants saw the value of immediately discussing what happened and especially what could be done to improve “what we do” the next time as being very important. The value of AAR was seen in the action plan where it is an activity as well as indicator of measuring progress.