Participatory workshop method: participants rotate in small groups through several table stations and discuss different questions. Insights are brought together in the plenary at the end.
Welcome, introduce the facilitators, state the goal of the World Café.
Explain the flow of the World Café: table hosts, rotation, documentation on table cloths/paper. Ground rules: listen, build on ideas, visualise. More large-group methods: 1-2-4-All.
Slide or handout explaining the World Café rules
Briefly introduce the guiding question at each table so everyone knows what to expect.
Table cards with guiding questions
All groups discuss their guiding question at their starting table.
Small groups (4–6 people) discuss the guiding question of their table. The host moderates and documents the key ideas on the table cloth.
Table cloths (paper), pens, table cards with guiding questions
All participants (except the table hosts) move to the next table.
New groups at the tables – the host summarises the outcomes of round 1, new input is added.
The host welcomes the new group, summarises the previous insights. The new group adds, deepens and builds on what came before.
Table cloths from round 1
Rotate again – everyone except the hosts moves on.
Final round – deepen and condense the insights.
Final group at the table. The host presents all previous insights, the group sharpens, prioritises and formulates the key takeaways.
Table cloths from rounds 1 & 2
The hosts prepare the 3–5 most important insights of their table for the plenary round.
Everyone comes together – insights from all tables are shared and condensed.
Each table host presents the key insights (about 3 minutes each). The plenary listens – no discussion in this phase.
Table cloths / flipchart
What repeats itself? Which cross-cutting themes emerge? Surface the patterns together.
Moderation cards, pinboard
Which insights matter most? What are concrete fields of action?
Dot-voting stickers
Facilitator summarises, thanks the participants. Name the next steps: who documents? How do we continue?