Actors Mapping: Overview

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.

Best Tools for Actors Mapping

There are many tools of conflict analysis that feature the conflict actors in one way or another. Some of the common ones include:

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

Actors Mapping Tool

Whereas most conflict analysis tools and Actors Mapping Tools focus on the conflict issues or the surrounding variables, (and only briefly feature the actors), the Actors’ Mapping Tool 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.

Why use Actors’ Mapping Tool

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

Read the Dangers of skipping the Actors’ Mapping process here

How to do Actors Mapping: Requirements

• Cut cards of different sizes and shapes. The shapes you should have are circular, triangular, and rectangular. The circular and triangular cards represent the actors whereas the rectangular cards represent the conflict issue(s) between any two actors. NB: Depending on the working space you have, the diameter of your circular cards, as well as the width/ length and sides of your rectangular and triangular cards, respectively will differ.
• Marker pen(s) for writing the names of the actors on the cards
• Masking tape or glue stick for taping/ sticking the cards on a flip chart or wall
• Have a flip chart or wall where you will paste your cards with a masking tape

Image of Eldoret Actors’ Mapping

How to do Actors Mapping: The Process

1. Brainstorm on all the actors; list them as you remember them
2. Depending on your knowledge of the conflict issue and the actors, decide on the shape for each actor. Circular cards represent actors whose involvement in the conflict directly feeds/ influences the conflict whereas triangular cards represent external actors who somehow influence the conflict.
3. Decide on the importance of each actor to the conflict issue. The larger the card, the more important the actor is to the conflict or the more directly the actor’s actions are to the conflict. As such, small cards represent actors who influence the conflict but only barely
4. Once you have allocated the actors to different card sizes and shapes, decide on the card location on your presentation grid where you can easily connect the relationship between such actors and the rest
5. Decide on the relationship between the actors (see the key on relationship representation attached in the Actors Mapping Image)
6. You may (not always necessary if you will use additional tools to analyze the conflict) indicate the issues of conflict or alliance between actors
7. Lay out your presentation – see the example presentation below.

Read 5 Reasons Why Every Intervention MUST Start with Actors Mapping