KM Insight: September 2023
Pathways to Wellbeing Training Participants Show Growth Opportunity Knowledge Management and Partners have developed and tested a holistic development training program in Ghana, Malawi, and Colombia. Overview
Opportunity has developed an unique, holistic development training program entitled Pathways to Wellbeing (“Pathways”) – a training that conscientizes clients to the different areas where they and their households can develop. Using real-life stories – presented as videos or flashcards – around which discussions can take place, facilitators encourage participants to begin to own their own development and begin a journey toward wellbeing in various aspects of their personal, household, and community life. Opportunity partners in Ghana, Malawi, and Colombia piloted the training in different institutional settings – microfinance, savings groups, and churches – from 2022-23. Positive outcome findings show that it is highly likely that clients and staff of programs engaging extreme poverty would welcome this program given the need and expectations for deep engagement.
Key Research Findings: • • •
Tested: Across 3 countries, 9,142 participants were trained in 2 modules: “Foundations” and one other module, with the topic chosen depending on the context/partner. Program Use Context: Warm reception by savings groups and churches showed promise for further use by them and by Graduation programs. Success in the FSP context required strong leadership commitment. Participant Outcomes: The satisfaction rate was 100% in both Malawi and Colombia. Across a wide range of life aspects, outcomes indicators from the pilot suggest positive change due to the training.
PROJECT CONTEXT People living in poverty experience barriers and opportunities in multiple aspects of their spiritual, social, and physical lives. Because of poverty’s multi-faceted nature, specific, singular interventions often have a limited impact. At the same time, most development organizations cannot efficiently deliver services across multiple technical areas. The Pathways to Wellbeing program offers a middle ground: a way to address multiple dimensions of poverty while staying focused on a primary intervention. This seamlessly fits savings group, Graduation, and church contexts by addressing the multi-faceted development needs of those living in poverty. For financial institutions, Pathways can also support business goals by enhancing client retention, strengthening loan repayment, and engendering customer loyalty and stability.
THE CURRICULUM The Pathways to Wellbeing Program is based on the concept of “Shalom” which drives the objectives and structure of the training curriculum. The Christian worldview from which this concept arises posits a God whose desire is for joyful human flourishing through restored relationships with God, with ourselves, with others, and with Creation.1 The 6 training modules relate to these dimensions (see Figure 1). Each module consists of 4 lessons, with options for 30-, 60-, or 90minute sessions. Pathways uses adult learning best practices and is story-based. Each conversation session is structured in the same way, with a real client story of struggle and success at the center for participants to discuss and relate to their own experiences. The stories are presented in half of the lessons as videos and in story-card or presentation format in the other half. The
Figure 1.
1 This and other embedded values, while arising from one tradition, are values/concepts that can be readily appreciated by other value traditions.