Social Network Analysis

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is gaining traction as a useful tool to better understand who is connected to whom regarding a particular issue. For example, if a development project is facing difficulty knowing who are the key actors supporting a reform coalition or advocacy campaign, it could employ SNA techniques to identify and compare the relationships within and between these actors to plan and prioritize changes and interventions geared towards harnessing these social connections and knowledge flows within the coalition and with outsides groups or networks.

SNA is also a useful tool for understanding how local systems operate. For example, it helped systemactically understand HIV/AIDS referral systems in South Sudan under the USAID LINKAGES project. Through SNA, health sector actors identified blockages in the system for key populations and developed road maps and coordination systems to improve referral response times and awareness of referral services. 

Adapt has experienced SNA facilitators that can train, mentor, or carry out SNAs for development projects at any stage in the project cycle.