Community Representation, Consultation and Communication

1. Community Representation, Consultation and Communication Pacific Sexual Diversity Network Leadership Development Suva, 1-5 June 2009

2. Overview of session • Definitions • Mechanisms • How they relate • Reflection on our own organisations and the PSDN • GIPA and the representation of HIV positive MSM and transgenders

3. Leadership Representation Communication Consultation Community

4. What is community representation? • Speaking on behalf of others or acting on behalf of others (the community) • Leadership role • Means we are obligated provide representation when asked (by those we are representing and those we are representing to) – for example, as Pacific MSM/TG we are obligated to provide the perspective of our communities when requested • Effective representation requires legitimacy • Legitimacy = being authentic, valid, ‘official’

5. Legitimate representation

6. Important point… • All three parts of legitimacy need to be maintained – they can’t just happen once • Capacity – continuous effort to ensure you have the skills and knowledge, continued demonstration of capacity • Recognition – the community and others must continue to consider you their representative • Endorsement – repeated processes are required to show you have the continued support of the community

7. How do I become a representative? Even with high capacity, without recognition and endorsement representation doesn’t occur

8. Answer these questions… • Who am I representing? • How was this representation determined? • How do I maintain confidence in my ability to represent? (capacity, recognition, endorsement)

9. Community consultation – why? • Essential for genuine, legitimate and effective representation • The way we know we are representing community views accurately • The way our communities know we are aware of their views and capable of reflecting their concerns

10. When is consultation necessary? • When major and long lasting decisions are be considered • When we are about to undertake a new activity or embark on a new direction • When we have been asked to provide a representative perspective on a particular issue

11. How do we consult? FORMALLY… • By having discussions (by email, phone, face to face) • Through organised processes (meetings, fora etc.) DELIBERATELY… • By specifically asking key questions about a particular topic you want to know about • By recording the views expressed in a standardised way … AND OPENLY • By promoting the fact we are consulting and why • It’s important for those we are consulting with to know they are being consulted at this time • Also that the results of the consultation are fed back to them

12. When have I been consulted? • Think of a time when you have been consulted as part of your community? • What occurred? What was useful about the consultation? What could have been improved?

13. Community communication • Providing feedback: What have I been doing on your behalf? How have I reflected your views? • Being accessible:

14. Ways to communicate • Providing feedback: • Posting updates online (email, websites) • Writing articles, making presentations, speaking to people (should be formal to some extent) • … should be very specific/deliberate/organised • Being accessible: • Speaking to people • Responding when you are asked questions or for information • Making ways of contacting you generally available • Attending appropriate community events • …more casual and informal but approachable and responsive at the same time

15. Leadership Representation Communication Consultation Community

16. Representation, consultation, communication • Are linked (and are related to accountability and transparency) • Sometimes people who become representatives think they don’t have to consult or communicate – because they are representatives! • Ongoing consultation and communication is essential for effective ongoing representation

17. Mechanisms – the formal way we make things happen

18. Think about your own organisation… • What mechanisms does your organisation use for: • Representation? • Consultation? • Communication? • If you don’t have these mechanisms, what could be put in place? • If you do, can they be improved?

19. Let’s look at the PSDN… • What mechanisms are in place for: • Representation? • Consultation? • Communication? • How could these be further developed or improved?

20. Representation and GIPA • Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS • Idea that HIV positive people should be supported to participate and be represented in all aspects of the response to HIV/AIDS • What does this principle mean for representation? • Is it possible for HIV negative people to represent people living with HIV?

21. GIPA and the PSDN • What does/could the representation of HIV positive MSM and transgenders mean for the PSDN? • How can the PSDN support or facilitate representation of Pacific MSM and transgenders who are living with HIV? Nationally, regionally, globally? • What mechanisms could the PSDN use for representation, consultation and communication with Pacific MSM and transgenders who are living with HIV?

22. After this session… • How will you pass on what you’ve learnt? • Do you need specific assistance, resources or support from ACON and AFAO to do this?

23. Looking at what you’ve produced in this session… • Do you want to take forward these ideas and put them into practice? • If so, what support will you need from ACON and AFAO to do this?