It’s likely to reveal within R-R-D settings the best project or program window of opportunity entry point(s) at any of these environment levels hopefully promoting an enabling environment for CD change.   It has 3ws and 5ws utility to better understand whom, what, why, when, where and the how’ of the contextual setting; perhaps a better 3Ws-5Ws determinate instrument than what currently exists fostering however possible reservation of the tool’s application where trust and relationships building investment particularly in conflict and relief settings are a higher priority before introducing this tool.  

 

b. As in many developing world circumstances where systems, accountability and reporting have their strengths and liabilities, net-mapping may help highlight traditional and non-traditional means of resourcing funds and the stages and circumstances they may be activated, and/or where corrective interventions may be necessary. Diaspora remittances and their funding mechanisms is an area that needs better stakeholder understanding. Correspondingly the exercise may reveal what some may not want to be publically known or consider should be selective knowledge among some of the stakeholders thus making accountability or its potential more problematic in implementing.  

c. Complex emergencies representing an environment of shifting alliances, allegiances, multi-level social and ethnic divisions and sub-divisions, divergent political ideologies, religions etc. with inherent security management implications add to the tool’s utility and acceptance.

 

Given the relief – recovery – and development aspects of our work and their unique dynamics, the approach of how and when to administer this tool require thought especially given countries possessing two or more government administrations (Iraq: Baghdad and Erbil), (Somalia: Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Mogadishu (Somalia) with both settings having their own constitutions. In the effort to promote “a one UN” harmonization environment for greater cost effectiveness, i.e. Erbil (Kurdistan) maintaining a Joint Center for Coordination (JCC) and Baghdad’s own Joint Center for Monitoring and Coordination (JCMC) to monitor and respond to humanitarian need, the scope and span of stakeholder engagement rife with subjective elements that may either amplify or distort analysis  highlight review of the appropriateness of this tool, how and when to administer and at what level; especially where trust and relationship gaps are prevalent. 

 

2. It’s a tool providing a who’s who snapshot of beneficiaries, decision makers, implementers and finance mechanisms (formal and informal) that can be positively or negatively influenced by numerous factors governing relief – recovery and development implementation. As it has taken time for the cluster system to evolve similarly it may take some time for this tool to equally evolve and be accepted universally. 

 The executor of this mapping discipline must be well versed in institutional and group dynamics. An arsenal of synonyms must be readily be at hand to ensure a common understanding of terms and words that are culturally and politically acceptable to most, or all. 

Cons would be that information gathered might not be correct, that sensitive information might be withheld by participants since it would be on display. It also seems quite time consuming especially if you want to do the follow ups, which seems to be a good idea. 

Good practices would be to make the interviewees feel safe and comfortable enough to provide the accurate information and to take your time and not rush or influencing their answers through your own prejudice. 

The cons: It is a time consuming exercise and the result seems to be very much depend on the honest and openness of the interviewee.

Good practices: Assure to work with people who fully understand the contexts and make the interviewee to be as comfort as possible so the is no information withheld. 

The good practice form what we sow by using it is the team work every one participate and it dose reflect every one opinion. 

I have never used NetMap yet, but it seems to be a great way of interacting with all stakeholders and make them feel involved in the project design. If done properly, I imagine that the discussions during the exercise can help gathering other key information that might not go on the map, but needs to be captured also to get the complete picture.

As already mentioned, an important challenge is to be able to establish a trustful relationship with the stakeholders so that they really share all information and thoughts. A good practice might be to be very clear from the beginning on how the information will be used, who it will be shared with, if it will anonymous, etc. 

Some of the reflex ions in this module (in particular on the best way to get everybody to participate – Group VS Individual interviews) reminded me of community vulnerability mapping activities. As for geographical maps, I think one challenge for stakeholder mapping might be to get the right level of detail and avoid saturating the map with too much information.