Trust in the Leader of Collaborative Process Design and Facilitation
SKILL SK-07 | Communication & Inclusion
Community Sensitivity
The ability to read and respond to social dynamics, cultural protocols, and community norms in ways that demonstrate respect, avoid inadvertent offense, and do not reinforce existing power imbalances or exclusions.
How to Develop It
1. Cultural protocol review
Before community entry, identify at least three cultural or social protocols to observe. Review with a local community member or CSO partner. Adjust the engagement design based on what you learn - document the adjustments.
2. Format piloting
Before any full consultation, pilot the format, materials, and language with a small group of trusted community representatives. Ask explicitly: what feels wrong or alienating? What would make this more comfortable?
3. Post-engagement debrief
After every engagement, spend 10 minutes with a trusted community contact asking: what landed well? What felt off? What should have been done differently? Document responses and update future designs.
Why This Skill Matters
Engagement approaches that ignore or misread community norms can cause deeper damage than no engagement at all. Community sensitivity is what prevents technically correct processes from being socially harmful.
Observable Behaviors
+ Observes and adapts to community protocols without being asked
+ Identifies who should be consulted before any public engagement - and consults them
+ Avoids formats and language that inadvertently signal disrespect or hierarchy
+ Recognizes when their own cultural background is influencing their interpretation
+ Asks community members to review engagement materials before using them
Self-Assessment
Read each Reflective Question below and honestly consider how consistently you demonstrate this in your actual fieldwork, not how you think you should behave, but how you do behave. Then assign a score from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest):
(1) Not yet developed: Rarely demonstrated in practice
(2) Emerging: Demonstrated sometimes, but inconsistently or only under favorable conditions
(3) Established: Demonstrated reliably in most situations, including moderately challenging ones
(4) Adaptive: Demonstrated reliably even in high-pressure situations, and practitioner actively helps
Common Gaps & Pitfalls
! Treating community sensitivity as relevant only in indigenous or traditional contexts
! Assuming that awareness of cultural norms is sufficient - active observation and adjustment are required
! Learning about community norms secondhand and not verifying them directly
Connections
SK-01: Landscape Awareness
SK-06: Trust Building
SK-09: Culturally Adaptive Communication
Reflective Questions Score from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest):
I identify and observe community cultural protocols before engaging formally
I pilot engagement materials and formats with community representatives before broad use
I debrief with local contacts after engagements to learn what worked and what missed
I can identify at least one way my own cultural background has influenced my approach
Th shared to the public for free courtesy of the
THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION GROUP FOUNDATION
www.coregroup.org.ph * info@coregroup.org.ph
in partnership with SustainABILITIES Lab
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