The World Café1 methodology is an adaptable format for hosting large group dialogue. It can be altered to meet required needs and can change depending on context, numbers, purpose, location, and other factors. World Café is intended to facilitate open and intimate discussion, with the goal of linking ideas within a larger group to access the greater knowledge and experience in the room. The methodology can be adapted for online formats through the use of discussion boards, chat functions, Zoom, or other interactive monitored platforms. Participants move between a series of “tables” or groups (virtual) where they engage in discussion in response to a set of questions, which are predetermined and focused on specific goals. A café ambience is created in order to facilitate conversation and represent a third place.
[1]World Café conversations are based on the principles and format developed by the World Café, a global movement to support conversations that matter in corporate, government, and community settings around the world. It is a provocative metaphor for the power of conversations (Source: The World Café Community Foundation [2015], Creative Commons Attribution).Designing a Public Conversation Using the World Café Method (Carson, 2011).
Steps for an online World Cafe via Zoom (or similar platform):
- Divide the participants into tables/groups (Invite Friends for Coffee):
- Assign participants to a “table” (group of 5-8)
- If using live formats like Zoom or Teams, then assign participants to break out rooms
- Introduce Case Studies (Select from the Café menu - attached)
- Select a distinct Case Study for each team from provided menu, which was compiled based on on best practices on gender, migration and development that each represents different challenges across different stages of migration.
- Give each team a case study which they are to read independently
- Activity Per “Table” or group
- Groups select a “barista” who will take notes (using a google doc or shared document via selected platform).
- Groups are asked to answer a set of questions to determine if the specific best practices identified in the case study would work in their own/given context.
- See the Cafe Questions for details.
- Feedback and information sharing (Sharing coffee)
- Groups leave break out rooms and come back to one shared virtual room.
- “Baristas” share group discussions with brief outline of the case, and then short summary of responses.
- Organizers can compile responses via the google doc (or shared docs) to share with participants as a resource.
- Discussion will enable participants to share ideas, best practices, challenges and strategies for change. What was learned by each group? How do contexts impact these strategies in your own context? How can these be modified for different contexts? Are there some lessons which are universal?
| Learning Objectives | |
|---|---|
| - Defining the problem on migration and gender - Shifting the conversation | -What are the gendered aspects of migration?-What are the key gender issues and how do they impact women and men differently? -What are the intersectional groups ? -How can we help migrant women access protection (services, policies, pre-departure training) and access to justice to reduce their vulnerability? |
| Learning Objectives | |
|---|---|
| - Data gaps & solutions - Methods for inquiry - Voices & consultations | -How do we address inaccuracies, omissions and under-reporting on migrant women --what information is needed? -How do we measure progress over time toward gender equality (gender-related change)? -Who should be consulted and how can decisions be made--whose voices are represented, and which voices are missing? -How can we improve the use and collection of sex-disaggregated data and provide robust evidence and research on migrant women to inform national policy making and promote the development and implementation of gender-responsive migration policies and laws? |
| Learning Objectives | |
|---|---|
| - Implementation mechanism - Legislative, political, bilateral agreements, etc. | -What actors/organizations are present in the implementation process? -What role can each of these actors take and how can they work together? -What is the level of coherence across policy domains? Is there coherence? -What mechanisms for change exist and what steps are needed to create them? -What are the relevant conventions, international or regional meetings or groups, public communication strategies, etc? -Are international norms and standards for protecting and promoting migrant women’s rights being upheld (mechanisms to advance migrant women's status)? |
| Learning Objectives | |
|---|---|
| - Benchmarks and goals - International dimensions (e.g., reporting and evaluations to CEDAW, etc.) | -How do we measure impact? -What challenges might be the unforeseen or unintended consequences? How can we account for these? -How sustainable are the goals (do ambiguity, funding, resources and conflicting perspectives threaten success)? -What reporting and evaluation mechanisms exist for CEDAW? |
Modification of Steps for an online World Cafe via discussion board (or similar textual platform):
- Divide the participants into tables/groups (Invite Friends for Coffee):
- Assign participants to a “table” (group of 5-8)
- Create and then assign participants to specific group discussion boards (give each discussion board a name related to the cafe theme (e.g. “Cafe Genero” or “Cafe Equality”)
- Introduce Case Studies (Select from the Café menu - attached)
- Select a distinct Case Study for each team from provided menu, which was compiled based on on best practices on gender, migration and development that each represents different challenges across different stages of migration.
- Post a case study for each team.
- Activity Per “Table” or group
- Post discussion questions as above. Condense if necessary.
- Participants will answer questions using the discussion board function to insert comments.
- See the Cafe Discussion Questions for details.
- Feedback and information sharing (Sharing coffee)
- Groups return to a shared discussion board for reflections on key learning objectives.
- Organizers can compile responses into a shared document, such as through a google doc (or shared docs) to share with participants as a resource. The shared document can highlight what was learned by each group, and identify how best practices can be modified for different contexts.