Tool 12: Mapping priority issues When to use Purpose Time Resources Stage 3 This activity encourages participants to identify what matters to them about their community and what their concerns may be. 1 day (incl breaks) Sticky notes (2 colours), large sheets of paper, coloured pens, tape This is a very useful exercise for a community to identify what matters to them about their community and what their key issues are. Identify the issues 1. The community divides into groups of around 6. As a facilitator you can decide the formation of those groups – random, divided by identity such as gender, age or occupation etc. 2. On a large sheet of paper, each group draws a map of their community. Encourage them to include key landmarks, buildings, monuments, meeting places, fishing grounds etc. 3. Each participant takes 3 sticky notes of one colour. Reflecting on their community, on each sticky note they write something that is great about their community – 3 comments in total. 4. When everyone has finished, participants in turn read out their comments and post the sticky notes on the map of the community. Sticky notes are grouped into themes as they are posted onto the map. 5. Each person takes 3 sticky notes of the second colour. They follow the same process as in 3 above, but this time they write something that they are concerned about the community – the issues they are facing. 6. When everyone has finished, follow the same process as 4 above. 7. When all groups have finished, they share their findings with the whole group. Collate the issues 8. Their concerns about the community are then collated, with input from the whole group, by grouping those that may fall under similar headings onto large sheets of paper. 9. At this stage you will have all the participants’ issues grouped into key themes. 10. Invite participants to walk around the large sheets and reflect on what has been written, choosing one issue they would like to work on further. Forms small groups – one per issue. Develops information about the issues 11. Small groups discuss their allocated key theme, telling stories of their experience of the issue and developing more detail about it and its impact. 12. Each small group presents their issue to the whole group. The whole group discusses with others adding to the knowledge of the issue if they wish. Prioritising the issues 13. Give each participant a sticky dot (or anything to vote with – 6 stones?) 14. Invite participants to vote by allocating as many of the 6 dots/stones to the issue they think is most important. 15. ‘Votes’ are counted and recorded against each issue. These are the priority issues. APF HRCLD Guide 80