Support the spread of “good practice” in generating, managing, analysing and communicating spatial information Significance of Enabling and Disabling Factors for Participatory Mapping By: Michael McCall, Giacomo Rambaldi and Janik Granados Unit: M05U01

After completing this Module, you will be able to: Discuss the significance of enabling and disabling factors for participatory mapping; Discuss the relevance of legal and political frameworks; Explain the role of social, economic, cultural and institutional factors at the local and community levels; Describe action planning in response to enabling and disabling factors.

This Module has four Units Unit M05U01 – Significance of enabling and disabling factors for participatory mapping Unit M05U02 – Legal and political frameworks Unit M05U03 – Social, economic, cultural and institutional factors at the local and community levels Unit M05U04 – Action planning in response to enabling and disabling factors

Content of Unit M05U01 Introduction Success in participatory mapping External and internal factors Determining enabling and disabling factors Enabling factors Disabling factors

Introduction to Unit M05U01 Participatory mapping depends on social, economic, political and institutional factors that are external or internal, enabling or disabling. The disabling factors tend to receive more attention than enabling factors because they require more analysis and smarter approaches.

Success in participatory mapping Criteria for successful participatory mapping: –satisfy the majority of actors –support the disadvantaged actors –do not cause unwarranted harm to any actor –create and support autonomous initiatives –achieve the intended results

Success in participatory mapping A basic condition in participatory mapping is “clarity of purpose” – clear agreement about the purpose(s) of the activity and long-term vision and commitment so that the purposes become transparent.

Success in participatory mapping Success can only be measured in the long term. Some cases of community-based interventions may have unexpected outcomes. Changes may result in benefits for some, may have no effect at all, or may have a negative impact on other people.

External and internal factors External factors refer to the broader environment. Internal factors pertain to an organisation, a community, a group of people or staff engaged in a project.

External and internal factors External factors –international and national policies –policies towards intellectual property rights –customary versus legislated law –status of protected areas –attitudes of government officials –language barriers

External and internal factors Internal factors –relationships between the community and external agents, government and institutions –community internal structure –community organisations’ capacity –literacy, education levels, gender, age, class and caste structures

Determining enabling and disabling factors Enabling factors support community- based mapping. Disabling factors hinder, reduce or block activities.

Determining enabling and disabling factors Disabling factors tend to receive more attention because they require more analysis and smarter approaches. Enabling and disabling factors can be of a legal-political, economic or social-cultural nature.

Enabling factors Clearly defined and shared purpose Community cohesion and experience Local leadership and governance Technical competencies and human attitudes Local spatial knowledge Supporting policy, legal environments and civil society

Disabling factors Laws countering community-based mapping Social structural problems in the community Mistrust of local spatial knowledge (LSK) Interests in maintaining the status quo Lack of clear purpose and a shared vision Lack of technical competence Lack of financial resources Infrastructural constraints

Disabling factors Addressing disabling factors means resolving or mitigating them. Some factors may be “killing factors”. Technology intermediaries need to assist local communities. A method for action planning is the SWOT analysis.