Permanent shelter
Practical Action
Social and institutional network analysis – who’s who?
All communities rely on social networks and institutions to govern, organise, and access
resources and services. Careful mapping of organisations, for example by placing cut out
circles of varying sizes and colours in relation to each other, can highlight which formal
and informal organisations relate most to, or which ones are disconnected from,
communities. It is possible to identify who has responsibility for and controls what.
Pivotal relationships and gatekeepers can be identified and implications for any
interventions explored.
Livelihoods & class analysis – how do you make a living?
Diagrams and discussions can help to understand individuals’ and households’ sources
of livelihoods, behaviour, decision making and coping strategies. Interventions can be
focused to strengthen and /or diversify the existing livelihood options and mitigate
apparent risks.
Gendered resource mapping – what’s the difference?
By exploring resource availability and use by women and men an appreciation of who
controls what and how each benefits can be gained, and a profile can be established.
Problem tree – getting to the root of it
This process aims to create an understanding of prominent problems impacting on
individuals and communities. Collective discussion aims to dig deeper in order to
understand the root causes and then develop strategies to address these rather than
simply tackling symptoms. The branches of the tree reach for the light to nourish future
growth.
Ranking and scoring – putting things in place
Hazards, needs or planned actions, services, or any aspect of development can be placed
in a matrix and people can be asked to rank each according to the others. By asking
people to share out finite numbers of counters (beans, stones or any other local object
available in quantity) a quantitative ranking can be created. It remains true that the
discussion and qualitative debate is more interesting than any absolute numbers coming
out of the exercise.
Disability mapping – whose needs are special?
A census of disabled people and their disabilities within the community, their location,
their livelihood options and the facilities which are available to assist them need to be
mapped, so that they can be included in community based activities and their future
aspirations realised.
5 Figure 6: Photo credit: Practical Action South Asia