Appreciative Inquiry Approach is breathing in Amman

“It was an exciting workshop, but the method is brand new, so it was not easy at all,” capacity building consultant and trainer at the workshop Jalal Maqableh explains, exhausted but satisfied after two days of intensive workshopping in Appreciative Inquiry (AI) method at ActionAid regional office.

Osama Al-Khatib and another of the AI participants breaking the ice on the first moments of the workshop at ActionAid Denmark regional office in Amman. Photo by Lise Olivarius

AI is a new organizational development method being adopted by ActionAid Denmark and its partner organizations, and there is no Arabic translation of it so far, “but we are working on that,” Jalal Maqableh insures confidently and continues explaining: “This pilot workshop is established in a cooperation between ActionAid Denmark and Youth:Work Project’’

Including concepts, tools and models, AI provides organizations with a new and positive attitude in dealing with social change projects. “We started out with some ice-breaking activities, but the participants actually broke the ice themselves. So the appreciative attitude is already there – we just help them putting it into professional practices.” Jalal Maqableh adds.

One participant, Osama Al-Khatib, 31, trainer and career consultant at King Abdullah Fund Development (KAFF), Hashemite University, explains: “As a trainer AI is giving me some refreshing behavioural skills that I can apply directly in conflict solving and other situations in my organization.”

Before joining the last meal of this lively workshop, one of the participants adds: “I made 16 new meaningful relationships – that is important as well!”

Another workshop is held in Ma’an in Southern Jordan on the 13^th – 14^th of April.

Jalal Maqableh, software engineer, capacity building and business development coach/consultant, and trainer of appreciative inquiry.