Tools And Methods Overview

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Transparency board

To share information about government or NGO projects and programmes.Transparency Boards are used to share information about proj…

Suggestion box

To enable citizens to submit anonymous complaints, suggestions or questions. Community suggestions boxes allow citizens to submit…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Daily activity chart

To help participants to analyse how their time is used each day.The processDraw a daily timetable from sunrise to sunset.Ask part…

Daily activity chart

To help participants to analyse how their time is used each day.The processDraw a daily timetable from sunrise to sunset.Ask part…

Cobweb for rights analysis

To help understand the rights situation and of different groups in a community.In the example below the focus is on women's right…

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

Forum theatre

To help people explore how they might change their reality and rehearse possible actions. In forum theatre a play or scene, usual…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Seasonal calendar

To help participants to analyse the distribution of agricultural work / crops / illnesses / etc. over the year.Cross referencing …

Seasonal calendar

To help participants to analyse the distribution of agricultural work / crops / illnesses / etc. over the year.Cross referencing …

Suggestion box

To enable citizens to submit anonymous complaints, suggestions or questions. Community suggestions boxes allow citizens to submit…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Household expenditure wallet

To explore how households distribute their income to provide care.This tool focuses on how households earn and spend their income…

Public services map

To analyse the state of a public service (e.g. education) and the impacts on local people, and to analyse and prioritise the most…

The tax stones

To introduce the idea of tax systems that help the poor (tax justice), to explore links between paying taxes and having services,…

The ideal school – paying twice for education

The idea that tax-pays-for-education is explored through a school mapping activity.ObjectivesTo explore links between paying taxe…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Power flower

To look at shifts in different forms of power. The power flower tool provides a critical lens and a simple way to gather, consoli…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Transparency board

To share information about government or NGO projects and programmes.Transparency Boards are used to share information about proj…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Community meetings - monitoring

To enable community members and other stakeholders to meet regularly to monitor progress towards agreed goals and are able to ide…

Focus group discussion

To bring together a group of individuals with similar interests or experiences to explore a particular issue in a structured way.…

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Focus group discussion

To bring together a group of individuals with similar interests or experiences to explore a particular issue in a structured way.…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

Participatory expenditure tracking

To track the flow of public resources through different levels of government. Information is gathered from the central, local and…

Suggestion box

To enable citizens to submit anonymous complaints, suggestions or questions. Community suggestions boxes allow citizens to submit…

Timelines

To track changes or document the history of a community or organisation.By capturing the chronology of events as perceived and …

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

What is VAT? The shopping list.

Participants discuss what ‘VAT’ and ‘VAT exemptions’ are by looking at local products they have bought recently. Objecti…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Transparency board

To share information about government or NGO projects and programmes.Transparency Boards are used to share information about proj…

Care sharing square

To help identify actors that can support and share an individual's care work.The tool helps to introduce the idea that care is a …

Care sharing square

To help identify actors that can support and share an individual's care work.The tool helps to introduce the idea that care is a …

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Activity mapping

To explore the different activities that women and men do each day and how these contribute to the local economy.The tool asks pa…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Transparency board

To share information about government or NGO projects and programmes.Transparency Boards are used to share information about proj…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Community power map

To map spaces of power in a clear, visual way and presenting local information, problems and opportunities. A community map can b…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Simple ranking matrix

To rank issues according to their importance to the group. StepsIf you are working with a large group, subdivide the participants…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

What is VAT? The shopping list.

Participants discuss what ‘VAT’ and ‘VAT exemptions’ are by looking at local products they have bought recently. Objecti…

The ideal school – paying twice for education

The idea that tax-pays-for-education is explored through a school mapping activity.ObjectivesTo explore links between paying taxe…

The ‘tax-pays-for’ photo

The relation between tax and public services is explored through a photo action.NB. This tool needs at least one camera or mobile…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Ripples of change

To assess the levels of change resulting from a programme or project. A stone dropped in water creates ripples outwards. This ima…

Peeling the onion

To uncover and facilitate a process of deeper analysis about different forms of power related to specific issue.Visible power: ob…

Daily activity chart

To help participants to analyse how their time is used each day.The processDraw a daily timetable from sunrise to sunset.Ask part…

Forum theatre

To help people explore how they might change their reality and rehearse possible actions. In forum theatre a play or scene, usual…

Participatory expenditure tracking

To track the flow of public resources through different levels of government. Information is gathered from the central, local and…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Forum theatre

To help people explore how they might change their reality and rehearse possible actions. In forum theatre a play or scene, usual…

Citizens' voice

Citizens' voice is an approach to citizen journalism that can support the extension of communities’ capacity to pursue their own …

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Forum theatre

To help people explore how they might change their reality and rehearse possible actions. In forum theatre a play or scene, usual…

What is VAT? The shopping list.

Participants discuss what ‘VAT’ and ‘VAT exemptions’ are by looking at local products they have bought recently. Objecti…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Public services map

To analyse the state of a public service (e.g. education) and the impacts on local people, and to analyse and prioritise the most…

Cobweb for rights analysis

To help understand the rights situation and of different groups in a community.In the example below the focus is on women's right…

Peeling the onion

To uncover and facilitate a process of deeper analysis about different forms of power related to specific issue.Visible power: ob…

Peeling the onion

To uncover and facilitate a process of deeper analysis about different forms of power related to specific issue.Visible power: ob…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Body map - power within and power to

To facilitate critical analysis about shifts in ‘power within and power to’ with a focus on sensitive subjects such as sexual aut…

Public services map

To analyse the state of a public service (e.g. education) and the impacts on local people, and to analyse and prioritise the most…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

Social audit

To collect and present evidence about a programme or service. The Social Audit process uses partici…

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Pairwise ranking matrix

To compare a set of issues and find out which is the most important to participants. Known as a pairwise or preference ranking ma…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Peeling the onion

To uncover and facilitate a process of deeper analysis about different forms of power related to specific issue.Visible power: ob…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Monitoring Matrix of Information Access

This tool was developed to support civil society organizations, citizens and civil servants in evaluating the performance of loca…

Monitoring Matrix of Information Access

This tool was developed to support civil society organizations, citizens and civil servants in evaluating the performance of loca…

Care sharing square

To help identify actors that can support and share an individual's care work.The tool helps to introduce the idea that care is a …

Community meetings - monitoring

To enable community members and other stakeholders to meet regularly to monitor progress towards agreed goals and are able to ide…

Power line

To help participants explore the unequal distribution of power amongst people. It can evoke many negative emotions among partici…

Power flower

To look at shifts in different forms of power. The power flower tool provides a critical lens and a simple way to gather, consoli…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

Participatory expenditure tracking

To track the flow of public resources through different levels of government. Information is gathered from the central, local and…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Community power map

To map spaces of power in a clear, visual way and presenting local information, problems and opportunities. A community map can b…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Gatekeeper tool

To identify people who can help you access duty bearers relevant to your advocacy or campaigning work.The processDraw up a table …

Helping relationship spiderweb

To explore the web of people and organisations that can support a person in a difficult situation and to identify what makes a he…

Leaky pot

To explore how governments lose revenue through tax avoidance and corruption. This image of a leaking pot is used to support part…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

Safety walk

To identify areas in the community that are safe and unsafe for women.NB: This exercise should be facilitated by a trained traine…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Household expenditure wallet

To explore how households distribute their income to provide care.This tool focuses on how households earn and spend their income…

Household expenditure wallet

To explore how households distribute their income to provide care.This tool focuses on how households earn and spend their income…

Problem tree

To explore cause and effect.A tree can be used to explore cause and effect or problem and solution. The various elements of a tre…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

People’s caravan

To raise awareness or lobby on an issue. A group of people travelling together in procession often to raise awareness or lobby o…

Citizens' budget

To share information about a budget in a clear and simple way. Budgets reports are often very long and written in complicated tec…

Solutions matrix

To explore possible solutions to a particular issue or set of issues.StepsBased on the results of the ranking tool, ask participa…

Access and control matrix

To analyse who has the power to access and control different resources and who is denied this.The Access and Control Matrix encou…

3Ps power circles

To deepen analysis about how power relationships work at 3 different levels related to how we interact with the world: :personal …

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Community scorecard

To help groups assess services, facilities programmes or projects run by government, NGOs or other organisations, by grading them…

Role play - understanding tax

The idea of ‘tax’ is explored through a role play. Topics should be chosen according to their relevance to the local context, for…

Forcefield analysis

To identify helpers and spoilers – people, organisations or events that might help or hinder your work. For a similar tool, adapt…

Role play

To analyse issues and to rehearse speaking up in new situations or on different topics. Everyone has different roles in different…

River

To explore the history of an individual, community or organisation. The characteristics of a river (its changing width, current a…

Master suppression techniques and counter strateg…

Master suppression techniques can be used as an analytical tool to understand and analyze situations where unequal power position…

The tax cow

The image of a cow is used to explore the idea of tax collection.ObjectiveTo highlight the importance of fair tax collection (mor…

Ideal future map

To discuss what the participants would like to see in their village in future and to prioritise amongst these.Steps in the proc…

The market mountain - multiple taxation

Participants explore tax problems at the market place, including the idea of ‘multiple taxation’, by collectively interviewing a …

Systems diagram

To help make sense of a system, exploring the interdependence of different elements within it.A systems diagram may be used to de…

Traffic light ranking

Stickers or markers of three colours - red, yellow and green - are used to indicate safe, semi-safe and unsafe.StepsThe participa…

Action plan matrix

To support participants to develop a community action plan.Steps Community members develop action plans based on the solutions id…

Transect walk

A transect walk is a systematic walk along a defined path (transect) across a community to explore conditions by observing, askin…

Value for money grid

To review community or organisational costs related to a particular programme intervention or project and assess value for money.…

Monitoring Matrix of Local Fees and Taxes

This tool has been developed to support community organizations, district platforms and local communities to follow the process o…

Mobility map

To explore where people go, for what reasons, the frequency of their visits, distances covered, and modes of transport used.Steps…

Bridge

To develop or evaluate an action plan.The image of a bridge over a river (or road) is used to show the steps taken from the past …

Criteria ranking matrix

To rank different items / issues against a set of criteria.Steps in the processHere we use the example of a criteria ranking of f…

Timeline - action planning

To plan for action by marking key activities on a timeline or 'yardstick'.StepsMap each of the actions in your action plan along …

Card sort - problem prioritisation

To prioritise issues identified by the community.After identification of all the problems, prioritisation of these is done throug…

Income and expenditure tree

To analyse income and expenditure of an individual, household or organisation.Steps in the processIn this example we look at hous…

Diamond ranking

To set priorities after a discussion or a brainstorm.Steps in the processDivide the participants into small groups of 4-8 people.…

Tax body map

A body map is used to look at the effects of not having public services on local people’s rights, especially women (and youth).Ob…

Maps

To present local information, problems and opportunities in a clear, visual way. A basic map of a local area can be overlaid with…

Agricultural map

To show the different crops grown and / or livestock kept in a community.Steps in the processThe group may wish to begin the exer…

Spectrum of allies

Movements seldom win by overpowering the opposition; they win by shifting support out from under it. Use a spectrum-of-allies ana…

Pillars of power

Use pillars of power analysis tool to identify the institutions without whose support your target would collapse. It helps you st…

Local tax indicators - what have we achieved?

A list of indicators for LRP staff to categorise and assess their gains on tax. This can be shared with community people too.Obje…

Income and expenditure calendar

To analyse income and expenditure over the year of an individual, household or organisation.Steps in the processIn this example w…

Income and expenditure pie chart

To analyse the relative allocation of an individual or organisation's income on different categories of expenditure. It is a part…

Safety map

To identify safe and unsafe areas in a city or community.This exercise was designed as part of the Safe Cities Urban Book process…

Social map

This is a bird’s eye view of a village that shows the demographic details and the social infrastructure available for the people …

Report card (for documenting issues)

To document issues, identifying who is impacted and how and who is responsible.This documentation tool was designed as part of th…

Kite - grounding international work

To explore how international campaigns can be grounded and linked to the local level.The tool can be used to review or evaluate a…

Process diagram

To show the different stages involved in a process, including details of who does what and the time or cost involved in the diffe…

Tax Biscuit

The fact that big foreign companies are taking more from poor countries than they are giving is explored through the image of a b…

Chapatti diagram - spaces of power

To explore power relationships between organisations and people, focusing on spaces of power (closed, invited, created).The chapa…

Balloons and stones

To help identify factors that might help or hinder you in your work or in your progress towards a goal. The stones represent thin…

Public service trust diagram

To explore the levels of trust in public services in a community.StepsFor all the issues identified previously in the process, as…

The tax scale – tax holidays for locals or for bi…

With this tool participants explore the concept of tax holidays in big companies by comparing it to the VAT tool or the tool of t…

Who pays tax? The teacher, the vendor and the far…

The facilitator uses a series of questions to three taxpayers (a teacher, a market vendor and a farmer) to introduce the idea of …

Flow chart

To help make sense of different processes or complex systems - to explore cause, effect and inter-connections.Flow charts can be …

Body map

To explore issues around health and sexuality, women’s rights and violence against women.Steps in the processDraw the outline of …

Natural resources map

To identify the natural resources within a community and to discuss changes in the availability and quality of such resources. Na…

Chapatti diagram

To explore relationships between things – particularly the relative importance, influence or power of people, organisations or gr…

What would happen if ...?

To explore what happens to individuals and communities when care for people or for the environment is not provided. Participants…

TOOLS AND METHODS

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