Problem Ranking - Matrix Ranking Tool
The Tool
Once the data is analyzed, the problem's and opportunities are prioritized according to the community’s perception. This is easily achieved through matrix ranking and scoring. In some cases, facilitator's have found it important to do the prioritization in several stages. For example it is possible to separate men and women to do the prioritization separately thus generating vital gender related information. The two ranking can then be combined to form one ‘community’ ranking. It might be important to represent the problems using letters or symbol's as these reduces congestion in the matrix.
The Process
The process is normally undertaken by creating a matrix with a list of all the key problems from the data analysis exercise. The problems are then listed on rows and columns on a flip chart. The facilitator the asks the community to compare each pair of problem's and select the most important. This is the indicated in the appropriate box on the matrix. The process is then repeated until all possible comparisons are exhausted. The problems are the scored by counting how many times each has been mentioned on the matrix boxes. The problem appearing most frequently in the matrix is ranked number one and so on. Below is an example of a matrix ranking done by a real community.
The output
Example: community needs priorities in Wau Shilluk Village
|
|
Education |
Health services |
Agriculture (food security) |
Fishing |
Livestock Health |
Women economic activities |
Score |
Rank |
|
Education |
|
HS |
E |
E |
E |
E |
4 |
2 |
|
Health services |
|
|
HS |
HS |
HS |
HS |
5 |
1 |
|
Agriculture (food security) |
|
|
|
A |
A |
A |
3 |
3 |
|
Fishing |
|
|
|
|
F |
W |
1 |
5 |
|
Livestock Health |
|
|
|
|
|
W |
0 |
6 |
|
Women activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
4 |
|
Key : HS - Health Services; E - Education; A - Agriculture; F - Fishing; W - Women activities; L - Livestock Health |
|
|
||||||
Final priorities
The final priorities ranked in order of importance were agreed upon by the community members was follows:
1.In adequate Health Services
2.Inadequate Education (facilities , teachers, books)
3. Low agricultural production (food security)
4. Inadequate economic opportunities for Women
5. Low income from fishing activities
6. High livestock mortality due to diseases
