Step 4: Decide and Plan

A well-facilitated time of reflection using the FBF process will usually lead to decisions the participants can own and put into practice.

If it proves difficult to reach agreement it can be helpful to make a list of all possible options for action. Groups or individuals can then list the positives and negatives of each option. As these are shared in the larger group it may be that agreement will begin to emerge. Sometimes it may be difficult to reach complete agreement in a group for a particular course of action. If this happens it will be necessary for the facilitator to bring the group to a majority decision, seeking as much consensus as possible.

To make sure that the agreed decision is acted upon, it is helpful to ask:

• What resources are available to implement the plan? How will the gaps be filled?
• Who will be responsible for each of the agreed plans and when will they be carried out?
• What training and/or support may be needed?
• What safeguards need to be included?
• How should problems be approached?
• Who needs to be told about the plans and who will let them know?
• When will progress be reviewed?

Recommended Tools for Step 4

Identifying Strengths and Resources (Tool 2.6) is an important tool to use at this step to ensure that it will be possible to carry out the decisions that are made. Prioritising (Tool 2.8) will be helpful in deciding between a number of possible options.

» If resources are required from outside the territory/command, the CPMS system should be used to develop a concept note