What is the social map?
It gives a picture (visual presentation) of the arrangement of households (HH) in (a) given section(s) of a community. The information generated about the well-being of each HH will show how HHs differ from each other; and can therefore be viewed as different HH categories (well-being differentiation).
Examples of what the map can tell us about the HHs:
• Where each HH is located
• Socio-economic arrangements within HHs
• Activities of HHs (e.g., livelihood activities)
• Capacities (skills) within a HH
• Resources/assets within a HH
• The head of the HH
• Shocks & stresses experienced by a HH
• Vulnerabilities faced by each HH
Why do we use the social map?
• To get a deeper understanding of social, economic and political issues affecting HHs.
• To understand the different livelihood patterns of different HHs, as well as the coping strategies.
• To help identify vulnerable HHs/groups and develop appropriate services for them.
• To generate data about specific HHs.
With whom does one conduct a social map?
• Community members who know their area well so they can be comfortable drawing the map.
• It can be a mix of people: young men and women, older people, children, etc.
• Or, it can be conducted with a specific target group, e.g., young women of child-bearing age (all depending on the objective of collecting the information).
• A facilitator to implement the tool and guide the discussions.
• The best size of group is 6-10 people.
What do we want to learn from the social map?
Examples of the type of information a facilitator might require from the social map include:
• Which HHs are female headed (FHH) or child headed (CHH)?
• Which HH have orphans?
• Why are there orphans in a HH?
• Why is a HH child headed?
• Which HH has disabled members?
• Which HH is headed by the elderly?
• Has it always been this way? (A follow up question to always ask!)
• How does that HH cope with the situation?
• How does the HH access the service that is about to be scored?
• Which HHs have a member who is chronically ill (CI)? Are there any other vulnerable groups we are concerned with?
The focus of the Score Card process is to find out who is not able to access the service being scored and why; therefore the information sought should be related to these issues.
