VIPP (Visualization In Participatory Programs) is a people centered approach to planning, training and groups events.
In Madagascar, from 1997 (when the first TOT was carried out in French) until now, VIPP has became a key tool for the GAIN – Groupe d’Actions Intersectoriel pour la Nutrition and similar forums. Many workshops involving more than 50 partners were carried out using VIPP, the most important being: Revitalization of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative; Development of the Behavior Change Communication Nutrition Strategy; Harmonization of Nutrition and Child Survival messages; Adoption of the Micro-nutrients National Protocols; Development and adoption of the National Nutrition Policy. VIPP was also widely used for staff retreats and project planning workshops. VIPP was used at national and district levels.
In Ethiopia, VIPP was used first to identify the nutrition partners as well as their activities, the existing gaps, and what need to be done to move nutrition forward. VIPP became a critical tool for annual work planning in nutrition and child survival, particularly in each of the 3 largest regions of Ethiopia where more than 70 participants gather to elaborate strategies and annual planning. VIPP was also a key tool to develop a draft of the National Nutrition Strategy and the National Guideline for HIV/AIDS and nutrition.
In Ghana, VIPP was used to identify lessons learnt after program implementation with eighty stakeholders.
In Tanzania, VIPP was used during the “Regional Forum on Taking Child Survival to Scale in Eastern, central & Southern Africa”. Members from 12 countries participated to develop the regional strategy and planning.
Lessons learned:
- VIPP workshops are fun, and at the same time participants work very hard, therefore the ideal number of days is less than 3 and half days. Participants leave the workshop with the feeling of having contributed and have a common memory of the events and outcomes.
- VIPP can be used with a large number of participants, up to eighty. First each participant fills up cards individually, then groups of 3 or 4 persons are formed, then groups of 6 or 8. Each time, groups discussed cards and selected a limited numbers of cards. For presentation, large cards are used.
To avoid:
- Plenary card collection with a large group; participants get bored.
- Problem identification without working on solutions; participants are frustrated.
- Flexibility in the process of the workshop; one session might define the content and process of the next session.
Trusting the process and the participants is critical
for the success of a VIPP event
Agnes Guyon
