Network Mapping in Market Systems: Understanding and Visualizing Complex, Dynamic Systems

As managers and staff of value chain projects take on a market facilitation approach, managing large and complex networks of actors becomes increasingly important, but also increasingly challenging. Understanding a network within a market system involves knowing who the actors are as well as the quality of their relationships. Network mapping is one method of managing complex relationships by capturing the details of who is in the system and the quality of their interactions to assist market facilitators and managers in designing more strategic interventions. The network map is a visual representation of this knowledge so staff can easily access, analyze and share the knowledge with others.