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Preparing for Advocacy: Actor Factor Analysis
For advocacy it is essential to figure out who can be the potential allies, supporters and opponents in the process. Actor factor analysis is one such method which helps in doing a political mapping of stakeholder and situations or circumstances around any issue for which change is desired or advocacy is to be planned. The exercise can be easily conducted in a training/community situation.
Actor factor analysis is a two stage process which when combined with planning becomes a three stage planning tool/process.
For advocacy it is essential to figure out who can be the potential allies, supporters and opponents in the process. Actor factor analysis is one such method which helps in doing a political mapping of stakeholder and situations or circumstances around any issue for which change is desired or advocacy is to be planned. The exercise can be easily conducted in a training/community situation.
Actor factor analysis is a two stage process which when combined with planning becomes a three stage planning tool/process.
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Stage I- Actors and Factors.
In this stage all the stakeholder around the issue of concern are identified, along with those all who may have a potential interest in the issue. Similarly all the circumstances – beliefs, customs, practices, rules, events, situations affecting the issue under discussion are also listed. For example if the issue of concern is ‘Discrimination in a Health Facility’ setting the two lists that may emerge may look like this There is no emphasis to make a complete or exhaustive list – but to start the process of enlistment. The lists can be expanded at a later stage. |
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Stage II – Political Mapping:
During this stage all the actors and factors who have been enlisted are entered into a five column matrix - thus
During this stage all the actors and factors who have been enlisted are entered into a five column matrix - thus
All the actors and factors are classified into one of these categories. New actors and factors can be introduced in this stage. The emphasis is on identifying those who may be inactive at this stage but who may have a potential role to play. Their current stage of interest/ mobilisation on the issue is indicated in the matrix. Thus the female media person who reports on university issues may be potentially interested but may have shown no interest in sexual harassment issues so she has to be classified as neutral or unmobilised.
In a training/community situation the participants can be divided into groups and made to work on the same or different issues. Once they have prepared their initial lists on paper they may be asked to write down each actor or factor on a VIPP/ Idea card. Actors and Factors may be written on cards of different colour. Once the initial list of actors and factors are written down on cards the participants may be encouraged to physically map out these in a matrix form – thus.
In a training/community situation the participants can be divided into groups and made to work on the same or different issues. Once they have prepared their initial lists on paper they may be asked to write down each actor or factor on a VIPP/ Idea card. Actors and Factors may be written on cards of different colour. Once the initial list of actors and factors are written down on cards the participants may be encouraged to physically map out these in a matrix form – thus.
Issue: (A = Actor from list of Actors; F = Factors from list of Factors)
While this matrix is being mapped new actors and factors may suggest themselves and should be added. One should also try to identify those actors and factors who are currently uninvolved but have a potential to take a positive stand on the issue. This map may also indicate how ripe an issue is for change. If the overall distribution of actors and factors is towards the favourable side an issue is ripe for change, however if the actors and factors are overwhelmingly on the right side it may be appropriate to revise the issue and identify an interim change objective.
Planning for Change:
This essentially involves strategies for moving actors and factors from the right side of the matrix left side. Different strategies may be appropriate for influencing different actors and factors. In some cases actors and factors on the extreme right may be left alone and isolated by organising all other actors and factors in favour or strongly in favour or at least neutral
This essentially involves strategies for moving actors and factors from the right side of the matrix left side. Different strategies may be appropriate for influencing different actors and factors. In some cases actors and factors on the extreme right may be left alone and isolated by organising all other actors and factors in favour or strongly in favour or at least neutral
