The facilitators must help the participants identify the most commonly mentioned
problems and to group or cluster them into themes. Problems can be grouped into
clusters that contain related issues (see example below). This helps participants
identify linkages and solutions that might be both focussed and cross-cutting.
Animal disease
Animal crop damage
Lack of inputs & advice
Hygiene & health
Insufficient pasture
‘Animal Health & Management’
Bad sorghum harvest
No fodder
No surface water
High cost of fuel
Lack of options
‘Lean season hardship’
No surface water
Poor harvests
Animal crop damage
Insufficient pasture
Conflict at reservoir
‘Water constraints’
Figure 1. Grouping problems to help the analysis of common and cross-cutting issues.
Agreement must be reached to discuss three or so priority problems in detail. To
do this, each member of the group is invited to rank what they see as the 1st 2nd
and 3rd most important problems of all those mentioned. The facilitators then
calculate the three priority problems to take forward for more detailed discussion.
The facilitator must keep in mind the purpose and scope of existing project work
and the roles of major partners. Many highlighted problems may be addressed by
activities available within the project.
It may be useful to invite the group to sketch a “problem tree” which represents
the cause and effects linked with each of the priority problems. The example below
outlines some causes of low level conflict at local waterbodies and their effects
(Figure 2).
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