OVERVIEW
What is it?
Tool 4 includes a graphic to visualise actors in a given sector and a matrix to interpret aspects of sector governance.
What can it be used for?
The tool enables visualisation and understanding of the power/influence dynamics of a sector (e.g. who decides priorities, how resources are distributed, how authority is exercised), which helps in identifying the core public, private and civil society organisations which have a significant role with regard to governance.
When can it be used?
The tool is relevant at all phases of an intervention, but particularly when capacity development support (or any intervention focusing on change) is in the initial design stage. It can also contribute to dialogue on broad governance and accountability and is closely linked to Tool 7 and Tool 8.
Who can use it?
- EU staff and stakeholders
What are its strengths?
- Combined with Tool, this is a very useful instrument for understanding the nature and dynamics of political and societal processes. This information is critical for deciding on possible support to the home-grown governance agenda based on capacity development support rather than technical assistance.
What are its limitations?
- Complex tool which requires a good knowledge of context, actors and relations inside the sector and to external factors.
- If informal components of governance are ignored or underestimated, the strategy built upon the matrix and its outputs will not be relevant.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Key elements
The tool provides information about the context, actors and governance, and accountability relations through a three-step approach:
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Step 3: Assess governance and accountability relations. The quality and consistency of relations between actors is assessed via a matrix to determine the governance mechanism and its implicit and explicit rules. This, in turn, enables identification of key drivers of change and estimation of sector capacity needs.
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Requirements
Data/information. Preliminary knowledge of the context is very useful. The starting point is often a literature review, followed by workshop/brainstorming to collect further information. The information is then analysed and structured. Tool 4 is closely linked to Tool 5. Information gathered in one of the tools should feed into the other.
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Tips and tricks
Governance should be systematically approached from two perspectives: effective supply on the governance side and demand for accountability from non-state actors and via a checks and balances system. It is thus important not only to undertake an in-depth insight analysis of the actors and their roles, but also to identify consistent variation in terms of power and incentives.
EU RESOURCES
Where to find it
- The European Commission (EC), 2010. EuropeAid. Tools and Methods Series. Reference Document N. 6 Toolkit for Capacity Development
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Complementary guides, methodologies and tools
- The European Commission (EC), 2008. Tools and Methods Series. Reference Document Nº4, Analysing and Addressing Governance in Sector Operations.
OTHER RESOURCES
- Overseas Development Institute (ODI), 2006. Governance Questionnaire (GTZ). Mapping Political Context: A Toolkit for Civil Society Organisations. Pages 21-23.
- The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2007. Political Mapping Procedure and Micro-Political Mapping Procedure. Tools for Institutional, Political, and Social Analysis of Policy Reforms. Pages 135-140 and 166-167.
