Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care - ICRW

Session 3: Problem Analysis and Problem Solving
Facilitator’s Note: During this step the group looks in more detail at some of the issues raised and
identifies potential solutions.
Things to Guard Against:
This exercise is not meant to deliver a list of demands to the parliamentarians or government. Get
participants to think of what they can do themselves as a community and what they would like to tell
their MPs about the different issues.
Don’t let the service providers or community leaders dominate and make sure that the views of
women are heard and given full recognition.
Objectives:
●●
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Clarify the root causes and effects of problems.
Identify possible solutions.
Time: 60 minutes
Materials: Notepads and pens or pencils <strong>for</strong> participant groups
Steps:
➊ INTRODUCTION: Explain that the aim of the session is to look at the priority issues in more
detail and come up with solutions, working in small groups. Encourage participants to consider
things they can do themselves, rather than producing a list of things they want government to do.
➋ WORK IN TOPIC GROUPS: With the help of participants, identify priority service gaps or barriers
requiring more discussion and problem solving. Then divide into mixed groups (consisting of
women, service providers, community leaders and MPs) and assign one issue to each group.
Group Task:
a) Clarify the problem – its causes and effects
b) What could be done to solve this problem? What things can you do? What things would you like
government to do? What additional in<strong>for</strong>mation is needed?
Report back: Ask each group to give a report and invite other groups to make comments and
additions.
At the end of the session ask the MPs to explain what they might do with the in<strong>for</strong>mation.
58 Chapter C: Facilitating <strong>Community</strong> Assessment Workshops