What is Actors Mapping or Stakeholders Mapping?

Actors mapping, also referred as stakeholders’ mapping in some development sectors, is the process of identifying the actors (people who directly/ indirectly influence something as well as the people who are directly/ indirectly influenced by the effects of that something.

Actors Mapping as Part of Conflict Analysis and Conflict Sensitivity

Actors Mapping is part and parcel of Conflict Analysis as it seeks to understand the variable (in this case the actors/ stakeholders) in a conflict or development work context in a bid to make informed decisions about a potential viable intervention.

Actors Mapping/ Stakeholders Mapping is also a key component of Conflict Sensitivity. Having an insight into the actors in a conflict / development and their relationships helps a peace worker, peace and conflict consultant, project managers, program coordinators, and development workers visualize how their interaction with certain actors is likely to affect their relationship with other actors.

Under-estimating the significance of some actors can be detrimental not only to the project (planned intervention), but also to the development worker / peace worker him/ herself.

How Does Actors Mapping Help?

• Visualize all the actors
• Visualize the relationship between the actors
• Visualize the conflict issues between the actors
• Explore the potential entry points for intervention

Notes on the Actors Mapping Visual Mapping

Please read this post to see the requirements and the process of Actors Mapping Here

• The role of each actor in the conflict is noted by the size of the allocated card
• The significance of each actor is noted by the shape of the allocated card. Some actors are not directly involved in a conflict regardless of how big or small (power) they are, hence (during the analysis exercise), they get a differently shaped card.
• The relationship between the different actors, hence awareness on the side of the peace worker/ development worker, project manager or consultant on the how working with some actors/ stakeholders might impact on the other actors; reinforcing or blocking his/ her efforts.

What Other Actors Mapping Tools I can Use?

• Actors Mapping,
• The Hand,
• PINF (Positions, Interests, Needs, and Fears), and
• Charting Conflict Systems (Systemic Analysis)

There is a plethora of tools that can be used to identify and analyse actors in any conflict context or development work.

Most Conflict Analysis Tools and stakeholders mapping tools focus on the multiple conflict variables and as such, peace workers, project managers, peace and conflict consultants, and development workers should choose wisely.

Tool of Choice for Actors Mapping

One tool, however, Actors Mapping Tool, I find most effective in doing a comprehensive mapping of actors/ stakeholders as it focuses on the actors and their relationships as the key variables.

Additionally, the Actors’ Mapping Tool enables a peace builder to not only focus on the ‘known’ conflict actors but also explore indirect actors whose involvement in the conflict is significant.

How to Do Actors Mapping / Stakeholders Mapping

Please read this in-depth post on how to do an Actors Mapping/ Stakeholders Mapping using the Actors Mapping Tool here

What are your thoughts?