Unit 4: Partners

Members of Farmer Field School (FFS) sing a song they composed on the importance of seed during the groups meeting in Jorayal Rural Municipality, Nepal.

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A group of people sit in a circle outside. They wear bright pink and sit on a blue mat. A woman conducts them, standing in the middle.

Members of Farmer Field School (FFS) sing a song they composed on the importance of seed during the groups meeting in Jorayal Rural ...

There is power in people. As we learned in the previous unit, ‘power with’ and ‘power within’ are two expressions of power that can be harnessed to great effect to make change happen. In this unit we will explore in more depth how working with others is a fundamental approach to achieving change.

We have already identified some characteristics of effective changemakers, such as having a good awareness of one’s own identity and potential biases, and being willing to adapt and change according to the power dynamics and shifts in the economic, political, and social system. Effective changemakers need to sharpen their ability to ‘dance with the system’, adjusting to the changing landscape of possibilities and threats, endlessly curious about their environment, understanding how others are engaging and reacting to the context, rather than becoming too fixated on their own plans.

In this unit we will delve a little deeper into the qualities you might already have, or wish to cultivate, as you lead change and join others in making change happen.

Maximise

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The graphic depicts eight equal-sized circles. At the centre is circle one and the seven other circles orbit around this central circle. Arrows point between the central circle and the outer circles. In the central circle it says Unit 1 understanding ourselves and our own assumptions. The outer circles have the following text. Unit 2 understanding context and how change happens. Unit 3 systems and power. Unit 4 collective action, changemaker characteristics. Unit 5 influencing, power mapping, partners and allies. Unit 6 influencing strategies, messaging and stories. Unit 7 campaigning tactics, action plan, risks. Unit 8 reflection, adaption, overcoming challenges. The Unit 4 circle is coloured green and all the other circles are coloured blue. This emphasises that you are on Unit 4 of the course.