Participatory Mapping

Participatory mapping can be done in a small group with one or a few locals or experts. It helps to explore and assess a situation where a development process should take place. It allows to get an insight into a current situation, including the perception of the local stakeholders (see also stakeholder analysis starting by stakeholder identification factsheet). This helps a planner to gain a deeper understanding of the local context, where a SSWM action shall be initiated. The map produced in such a way can serve as a basis for taking decisions how to change the local water and sanitation situation.

Maps allow to collect and position information and to recognise spatial relationships. The best sources of information for drawing a map are the people living in the area (WORLD BANK 1996). The collectively gained information should create a consensus under the involved stakeholders. Besides, many people can provide more information than a single person can. At the same time, participatory mapping helps to gain an insight how the involved people think and how they set their priorities. On the other hand, it can sometimes also be useful to do a locality mapping at the desk, as a first planning step to avoid long discussions and potential conflicts. This basic map can then be complete together with other stakeholders.

Participatory mapping is a participative process. The more people participate in a mapping process, the more insights on the issue can be collected. However, to start a SSWM process, a locality mapping exercise with just a few locals or experts who are familiar with the area and the concerned issue can gain valuable first insights. Later, to get the full picture, the mapping should be repeated in a full participatory mapping process with the community. This shall be done as a part of the decision making process.

1. Ask the individual or the group to draw the boundaries of the geographic unit being discussed. Participants or the planner can decide how they want to represent this – on paper with writing or using local materials such as wet sand and earth with sticks, stones or seeds. Remember that whatever material is chosen, you will always need a paper-based copy to enable comparative analysis. If it adds to the discussion, three-dimensional elements can be added, transforming the map into a model that emphasises landscape-level aspects of issues. This base map can be multiplied and used for different contexts.

2. On whatever medium is chosen, ask the participants to draw the basic outline of the local area, for example, roads, towns or rivers to get an accurate map, One way to do this, if you have the proper resources, is to project an overhead map onto a large sheet of paper and then to trace the required information.

3. Having prepared the map, which could be as large as a wall, people can then add their information either directly or by using sticky notes. Let them record what is most significant to them, and then ask for more detail if something you are interested in is missing.

To collect the most important information about the SSWM system of interest, use the following guiding questions to add the missing information:

• Which are the problems a community is confronted with (related to water or sanitation)?
• Where are these problems located?
• Where are the hotspots of these problems? Which are the worst?
• Potentially: Who is responsible for these problems?
• Are problems connected to each other? How do the problems influence each other?
• Are there good examples?

You can also orient yourself to the understand your system chapter. This chapter explains which information should be included in the map and also questions how to ask for this information.

4. Several modifications to the map may be needed before those involved are happy with the final result. Include additional written comments such as quantities of interest, if necessary.

5. Once a "base" map has been made, subsequent meetings can use it to make comparisons and additions.

If one has completed the mapping process, the “base” map can be used to present the current status. As stated above, the map is very valuable as an illustration of the starting condition, to make comparisons during the ongoing process.

Furthermore, a map produced in such a way can be used as a basis to take decisions in regard to sustainable sanitation and water management – e.g. which problems are the most important and require most attention (see problem and preference ranking). Naturally, information complied in such a way needs further research and complementary information in order to take a good decision where to start with implementation tools.