Lock-in system maps for discussing barriers and levers - IntercropVALUES Practice Abstract

Summary

Highlighting interactions between barriers helps understanding how targeted interventions on specific barriers may affect others.
Practical recommendations
For barrier and barrier interaction identification:
• Rely on interactions with a diversity of system actors to identify barriers comprehensively
• Unravel the causal roots of barriers, e.g., through iterative questioning such as “Why?”
For barrier and barrier interaction analysis:
• Ensure the readability of lock-in system map by:
o Grouping barriers to decrease the number of nodes
o Dividing the lock-in system map into thematic, sub-lock-in system maps
o Avoiding arrows overlapping
o Using short, explicit terms for nodes
• Once barrier analysis is complete, validate the identification of barriers and their interactions with actors.