Typical Errors in the Typical Errors in the Preparation and Execution Preparation and Execution of a PACA Exerciseof a PACA Exercise

Jörg Meyer-Stamerjms@mesopartner.com

Typical errors: Build-upTypical errors: Build-up

PACA is introduced in a top-down way without sufficient effort to mobilise a local Host and to have strong local participation in the PACA Team

The PACA Host does not succeed in explaining the purpose and features of PACA to other local stakeholders

The PACA Host underestimates the organisational effort involved in preparing a PACA Exercise

Only the "usual suspects" are invited for kick-off workshop, mini-workshops and interviews

Invitations for Kick-off Workshop and Mini-workshops are only sent out through one communication channel (and perhaps too late)

The media are not informed about the PACA and are not invited for the Kick-off Workshop

Typical errors: Hypotheses Typical errors: Hypotheses WorkshopWorkshop

The PACA Team does not conduct a Hypotheses Workshop

The PACA Team is not quite sure what a "hypothesis" is in the first place

The local PACA team members miss to indicate already ongoing LED efforts

Typical errors: Kick-off WorkshopTypical errors: Kick-off Workshop

There are only few participants, and many of them are not decision-makers

There are far more participants than you expected, and most of them are not decision-makers

The PACA Team spends too much time with the explanations of concepts and background at the beginning

The facilitator does not explain the Diamond concept before going into the mesocard-writing exercise

The facilitator does not explain the mesocard-rules sufficiently

Typical errors: FieldworkTypical errors: Fieldwork

The PACA Champion arranges many Mini-workshops but only few interviews

The PACA Champion arranges only interviews for the first phase of fieldwork and only Miniworkshops for the second phase, or vice versa

Typical errors: Fieldwork -- Typical errors: Fieldwork -- Mini-workshopsMini-workshops

Inexperienced PACA Consultants experiment with their own do-it-yourself Mini-workshop format, instead of applying a proven format

PACA Consultants do not apply the appropriate PACA tools suitable for specific types of participants

PACA Consultants don't react flexibly to very small or very large numbers of participants

Typical errors: Fieldwork -- Typical errors: Fieldwork -- InterviewsInterviews

Interviewers don’t get precise information whom to meet, and where to go

Interviewers are not well prepared: They don’t know why they see this company or organisation, what it does, and what kind of specific information they should obtain

Interviewers do not question indistinct or unclear answers from interviewees and miss to mine deeper

Tensions in the interview team emerge

Typical errors: Results WorkshopTypical errors: Results Workshop

Interim assessments during fieldwork as preparation of the results workshop have not been conducted

The results workshop is not facilitated by an experienced PACA consultant

Time management gets out of controlThree Criteria are not applied rigorouslyProposals don't follow the "form follows function"

principle

Typical errors: Presentation EventTypical errors: Presentation Event

Invitation to Presentation Event is extended at too short notice Venue for Presentation Event is not appropriate (e.g. too small) Presentation is too long (more than 1 hour) Errors in the Powerpoint file for the presentation Proposals are too vague or abstract or nice ideas instead of

practical proposals The expectations of the participants are not managed properly No mesocards distributed at beginning of Presentation Event During the presentation, oral discussion erupts Important local persons want to give lengthy statements

Typical errors: Way-forward Typical errors: Way-forward WorkshopWorkshop

Way-forward workshop(s) are not organised immediately after the Presentation Event

Way-forward Workshops are inefficiently facilitatedDuring the fieldwork suitable candidates for way-

workshops are not continuously identifiedThe participants at the way-forward workshops are

not invited on time

Main sources of failure in PACAMain sources of failure in PACA

no local host no or weak local PACA teamex-ante definition of solutionsex-ante selection of sectors

– inadequately defined sectors too long process / PACA Exercise too optimistic handling of 3 Criteriano / insufficient effort to mobilise project champions

Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your attention!