Case Studies

This case study series collects experiences with Net-Map from around the world and is intended to explore different applications and adaptations of the tool, inspire future users and initiate discussion and methodological development. Users who would like to contribute their own case study and share their lessons learned, are encouraged to contact Eva Schiffer at IFPRI-NetMap@cgiar.org.

Case 1: Understanding and improving water governance of multi-stakeholder bodies in Ghana

(Eva Schiffer, IFPRI, CGIAR Challenge Program for Water and Food)
Listen to podcast (4 min 32 sec - click player below)

In this case the tool was used for a combined research and organizational learning activity with a new multi-stakeholder water governance organization the White Volta Basin Board in northern Ghana. The organization is a river basin board on the sub-national level consisting of 17 institutional members representing district assemblies, regional level line ministries, traditional authorities, NGOs and the research sector. The basin board has low formal decision-making and enforcement capacity and thus needs to strategically use its governance networks to achieve its developmental and environmental goals. In a process of three interventions spread over one year, the members of the new board clarified their own view of the governance network in which they are going to operate, discussed differing views in small groups, agreed on a common network for the whole group and developed strategic ideas based on the strengths and weaknesses of their network situation. Complete case study 1 (222 KB).

Case 2: Research of Fisheries Management in Small Reservoirs in Ghana

This case study is drawn from the PhD research of Jennifer Hauck of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) In this case the research was focused on understanding networks on an individual actor level, to answer questions such as:

• Which actors were involved directly in fishing activities?
• Which actors within the community or from outside (apart from fishermen) did influence fisheries activities and profits from them?
• How relevant were these fishing activities for local livelihoods?
• Which actors were setting rules for fishing activities and who broke them?
• What were the reasons for breaking the rules)?
• What goals did actors have, that influenced the fishing activities (income generation, environmental protection, political goals, etc.)?
• Did fishermen and other water user built groups and organize themselves to reach these goals? Were people excluded from these groups and why?
• How important were fishing activities compared to other water uses and which conflicts or synergies arose from these activities?
• What kind of linkages and flows did exist in the network(s) (advice, money, gifts, instructions, disturbance,)?
• Which actors and links were involved in management and conflict solving mechanisms?
• Who could set rules and implement them successfully in the future?

Complete Case Study 2 (195 KB)

Case 3:Water User Associations at Small Reservoirs Rehabilitated by IFAD

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supported the rehabilitation of small reservoirs in Northern Ghana with substantial resources and logistics. Apart from the physical infrastructure the project activities also put a special effort on supporting local institutions for the management and maintenance of the infrastructure. Thus, understanding the successes and challenges of the project, IFAD does not only look at the state of the physical infrastructure but is also eager to learn more about socio-economic aspects of small reservoir maintenance. In this pilot study, a team of researchers and evaluators from IFAD (Moses Abukari), University of Bonn (Jennifer Hauck) and IFPRI (Eva Schiffer) explored, how Net-Map could be used to enrich project evaluation and planning for future projects.

Complete Case Study 3 (538 KB)

Case 4: Choosing members for District Oversight Committees in the African Peer Review Mechanism Process (APRM) in Ghana

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by the member states of the African Union as a self-monitoring mechanism. The mandate of the APRM is to encourage conformity with regards to political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards, among African countries and the objectives of socio-economic development within the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Ghana is one of the early adopters of APRM and has chosen a decentralized approach to it’s implementation (Ghana APRM reports). After assessing the development and governance needs on the district level, the Government of Ghana has developed an APRM plan of action and is now embarking on its implementation. To ensure a real engagement of the civil society on the district level, the Ghana APRM Council decided to institute District Watch Committees, made up of civil society members on the district level. This process is facilitated by the German Hans Seidel Foundation and implemented by the National Commission on Civic Education.

This is where Net-Map was used: The NCCE district directors were tasked with assembling nine member civil society committees in their districts but two questions remained unclear for them:

• Who represents the civil society in my district?
• Which actors of the civil society would be able to contribute to the successful APRM implementation and reporting?

The case study document here is the first report from a pilot Net-Map activity in the three northern Regions of Ghana, done by Douglas Waale. The positive reactions both on the district and on national level convinced the APRM council to use this approach nation-wide. Activities are ongoing.

Complete Case Study 4 (334 KB)

Case 5: Innovation Benchmarks and Indicators - The Ethiopian Maize and Poultry Sectors

How innovative is a certain sector of the agriculture of a developing country? How can we compare innovativeness of different sectors within one country and between different countries? Can the innovation systems approach help to develop meaningful benchmarks and can Net-Map be one of a number of methods that is used to gather data for the benchmarking? These are questions that Regina Birner, David Spielman, Eva Schiffer and Dawit Kelemework try to answer in this ongoing IFPRI research project. After the first field work in April 2008, David Spielman reflects on the things that he has learned by drawing Net-Maps with different actors from the maize and poultry sectors.

Listen to podcast (5 min 17 sec - click player below)