Design Thinking Trainer - Oxfam

Oxfam is a rights-based global development organization with more than 70 years of experience in more than 90 countries worldwide. Oxfam’s mission is to end the injustice of poverty and inequality through systemic change and the advancement of political, economic and social rights. Oxfam has been working in Ghana since 1986, managing programs related to food security and livelihoods, universal access to education and healthcare and transparency and accountability in extractive industries (mining, oil and gas).

Oxfam’s experience in Ghana and strong partnerships with government institutions, Ghanaian civil society organizations and NGOs supports the delivery of active and innovative programs and advocacy work seeking to improve the livelihoods of Ghanaians and strengthen citizen accountability. Oxfam in Ghana currently works in 11 out of Ghana’s 16 administrative regions.

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Job Description

Terms of reference, Training service in ‘Design thinking’ approaches and tools

Background

System Innovation for Women’s Economic Empowerment, SIWEE is a pioneering, collaborative action learning oriented initiative, designed to catalyse and facilitate transformational change for women’s economic empowerment. Fundamental to SIWEE’s value proposition is that it aims to take a systemic approach to structural issues best addressed by a coalition of multiple actors, recognising that single actors have been unsuccessful in resolving the complex challenges of effecting real transformations in Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) on their own. Its ultimate end-goal is to develop solutions tailored and relevant to resolving complex and systemic social challenges and barriers. It is distinct in that it seeks to and requires the engagement of multiple players with the power to affect the different parts of the system for which a solution is required/ ‘solution system’. Outcomes focused, outputs aim at developing solutions that are ‘fit for purpose’ and will make a real difference when implemented for Women Farmers in target communities. Creating real shifts and change in the outcomes and results produced.

The SIWEE Social Lab leverages a range of methodologies in the development and delivery of the work of the Lab including action learning, change, agile, knowledge management and design thinking. Oxfam is looking to utilize Design Thinking to enhance and strengthen its User-Centered approach to solution and prototype development.

Objective

The objective of this work is to train SIWEE partners (action groups) and programme staff in ‘Design Thinking’ approaches and tools which will support the development of solutions in the Social Lab.

Specific objectives:

1. Providing an overview of Design Thinking frame and phases.
2. Take deep dive in the identified Design Thinking phases which are best fit for where the Action Groups currently are.
3. Working with participants using live user data gathered from communities to maximize sense-making and utilizing insights and learning, to shape new solutions and prototypes.

Scope of work and deliverables.

• To design the content of the training together with the SIWEE programme team.
• To facilitate the training sessions.
• To provide an introduction to relevant design thinking approach, tools and interventions.
• To strengthen Participant User –Centric mind-set – and in relation to creativity and innovating solutions to meet user needs and ambitions in a development context.
• To provide an emphasis and deeper dive in the following phases in design thinking phases – Experiment, Engage and Evolve.

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Participants 

The workshop audience will be made up of participants as follows:

1. SIWEE Social Innovation Lab – Action Groups x 25 participants

Each focused on developing solutions and innovations in the following challenge areas:

• Action Group – Access to Finance
• Action Group – Education and Advocacy

2. Programme team:  Who’s role is to build lab architecture to deliver an environment for innovation and collaboration of multiple stakeholders.   The Programme team provide steer, facilitation, design and coaching for Action Groups in the Lab.

Duration

The training is expected to be delivered in five (5) separate sessions of half day or 1 day modules, and will be spread over the remaining duration of the Lab – May 2020 to March 2021. The first module is scheduled to take place on the 18th of May 2020, virtually, whiles date for subsequent sessions will be agreed between the Trainer and Programme team.

Expected output:

At the end of the trainings, it is expected that Action groups and programme team will be,

• Trained in ‘Design thinking’ approaches and tools.
• Acquired practical knowledge on how to apply design thinking approaches to strengthen User engagement, data and intelligence gathering.
• Be able to translate and turn data gathered into new solutions and prototype, that and are continuously informed by user inputs.
• Trial and test prototypes and enhancements for success.

Selection

Selection will be based on two parameters:

• Technical evaluation of the proposal elaborating work plan for a day’s training including approach & methodology and establishing your credibility in undertaking assignments of similar kind.
• The fees charged per days training.

Required Skills or Experience

Eligibility 

• The assignment seeks a skilled Design Thinking Trainer with conceptual and practitioner expertise and experience.
• Experience of implementing design thinking in an ‘Innovation Lab context’ will be a distinct advantage, as well working with diverse groups and multiple stakeholders.