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ProAction Café: From Ideas To Action

27/03/2026

At ProAction Café, participants help each other through several rounds of consultations to significantly transform their ideas into concrete projects or solutions. The method is based on a combination of World Café and Open Space, making use of the collective wisdom.

The method was developed by Rainer von Leoprechting and Ria Baeck.

Benefits:

  • Creates a safe space for creative solutions to complex questions.
  • Enables a rapid shift from an initial question or idea to an action plan.
  • Supports the growth of collaboration, shared ownership, and mutual learning within the group.
  • Helps mutual understanding and cross-pollination among tens to hundreds of people.¨

Disadvantages:

  • Requires a sufficient time (ideally 2.5 to 3.5 hours).
  • Demanding on space and equipment (a group of 4-5 people needs 1 table with chairs; space to move between tables is necessary).
  • The quality of outputs depends on the willingness of participants to bring their own questions, ideas, or challenges to be solved, as well as on the quality of hosting and willingness of others to contribute effectively.

Preparation in advance:

  • Frame the meeting with a main question or challenge, e.g., "We are looking for project ideas with the potential to support community life or support people in difficult situations."

  • Prepare participants coming with a concrete idea, question, or challenge (so-called "callers") to be able to present the ideas briefly and summarize what they need help with.

  • Invite diverse participants so they can contribute with diverse experiences and perspectives.

  • Secure a venue and refreshments.

On-site process:

  • Check-in and agenda setting: The host shares the purpose of the meeting and rules based on the Art of Hosting philosophy in a circle. Those coming with a specific project or question ("callers") present their challenge to the others and occupy discussion tables. Others sit down in open seats.

  • Three rounds of structured consultations: Participants rotate between tables and help the caller/topic owner in a different way in each round:

    1. Round 1: What is the quest behind the call/question/project?  – The goal is to deepen the understanding of the challenge or idea and clarify the main task for further discussion.

    2. Round 2: What is missing? – Searching for elements that would make the project more complete and feasible.

    3. Round 3: What am I learning about myself? What am I learning about my project? What next steps will I take? What help do I still need? – Synthesis of learning and formulating the specific support that the host/caller needs.

  • Closing Circle: Sharing answers to the questions "What am I grateful for?" and "What are my next steps?".

Examples of the method's use:

  • Development of evaluations in the foundation sector (2026). Foundations brought proposals for new programs and clarified priority questions, methodology, and the feasibility of evaluation during consultations with evaluators.

  • Community Planning. Other organizations utilize the method to connect various actors over common themes (e.g., a vision for community development), where discussion leads to common, thoughtful actions.

  • Development of social impact projects at the Scout Institute in Prague in cooperation with Development Coffee (first in 2015). Interested individuals came with their ideas for social impact projects they needed help with. Others came to contribute their experiences, ideas, and skills.

Formát Proaction Café je pro lidi zábavný. Panuje různé povědomí o oblasti evaluací, podobná setkávání mají smysl. Získali jsme praktické vhledy do budoucna.                
Účastnice ProAction Café pro evaluátory a nadace

Photographer: Tomáš Princ, from ProAction Café on March 3, 2026, in cooperation with the Via Clarita Foundation and the Czech Evaluation Society.

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