Participatory Methods

The Nine Questions Technique

The Nine Questions Technique is a participatory methodology used to plan, design, or evaluate comprehensive and sustainable projects. Through key guiding questions, participants structure an Integrated Action Plan that addresses all essential aspects needed to effectively intervene in a specific situation. This technique promotes systematic and collective reflection, facilitating the creation of clear, effective, and sustainable plans.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Structure an integrated action plan covering all fundamental aspects of a project.
    • Encourage collective reflection to ensure a well-grounded and effective intervention.
    • Facilitate participatory and collaborative project design or evaluation.
  2. Prepare materials:
    • Large sheets or flipcharts for each of the nine questions.
    • Markers, pens, and sticky notes for recording ideas and reflections.
    • Templates with the nine questions for each participant or group.
    • A spacious, comfortable area for participants to work in teams.
  3. Set up the space:
    • Arrange worktables so teams can collaborate comfortably.
    • Provide a common area to share and display results.
  4. To conduct the activity virtually:
    • Use a collaborative digital whiteboard to record answers to questions in real time.
    • Divide participants into virtual breakout rooms to discuss each question in small groups.
    • Assign a moderator to collect and present each group’s conclusions during the plenary session.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduction to the nine questions
    • Explain that the technique involves answering nine key questions covering all fundamental aspects of a project.
    • Present the questions and explain how they interconnect to form a comprehensive plan:
      • What?: Nature of the project.
      • Why?: Justification.
      • What for?: Objectives.
      • For whom?: Target group.
      • Where?: Location.
      • How?: Methodology of actions and evaluation.
      • When?: Timeline.
      • With what?: Material, economic, and human resources.
      • How much?: Budget.
  2. Group work
    • Divide participants into small groups, assigning one or more questions to each team.
    • Each group reflects on their assigned question(s) and records their answers on a flipchart or digital board.
  3. Presentation of results
    • Each group shares their answers with the other participants, highlighting key points from their analyses.
    • Use the common area to consolidate responses and structure the integrated action plan.
  4. Group reflection
    • Guide a general discussion on the resulting plan:
      • Which areas need more development or clarification?
      • Are there overlapping aspects or adjustments needed?
      • How do the answers connect to form a cohesive plan?
Recommendations
  • Define a clear scope: Ensure participants understand the context and objectives of the project before answering the questions.
  • Facilitate collaboration: Assign roles within each group (e.g., facilitator, recorder, presenter) to organize work effectively.
  • Use real-life examples: Present examples of similar projects to guide initial reflections.
  • Encourage creativity: Invite groups to use diagrams, drawings, or illustrations to express their ideas visually.
  • Set specific timeframes: Allocate defined time periods for answering each question and for group presentations.
  • Document the entire process: Take photos or record responses to maintain a record of discussions and the resulting plan.
  • Encourage connections: Invite participants to identify how their answers relate to those of other groups.
  • Include a final evaluation: Reflect on the quality of the generated plan and identify next steps for implementation.
  • Adapt language: Simplify questions if working with less technical audiences.
  • Plan for follow-up: Schedule a future session to assess progress in implementing the plan.
Inspiration

Inspiration: Practical Example of the Nine Questions

Project: Establishing a Community Garden

  1. What?: Create a communal space to grow food.
  2. Why?: Promote food sustainability and community engagement.
  3. What for?: Enhance food security and strengthen community ties.
  4. For whom?: Local residents, particularly low-income families.
  5. Where?: An unused lot at the neighborhood’s center.
  6. How?: Organize gardening workshops, set up a maintenance team, and measure impact through surveys.
  7. When?: Start in spring, with quarterly progress reviews.
  8. With what?: Gardening tools, seeds, volunteers, and donations.
  9. How much?: Initial budget of $500 for tools and seeds.
Materials
  • Flipcharts or large whiteboards.
  • Markers, pens, and sticky notes.
  • Templates with the nine key questions.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of the Nine Questions Technique is to participatively and reflectively structure the essential aspects of a project, from its justification to its budget. This technique fosters collaboration and a comprehensive vision, enabling the creation of effective, sustainable plans aligned with the needs of the group or community.
Type of activity
Collective ReflectionParticipatory DesignParticipatory Planning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Shared decision-making, Knowledge generation
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Sustainability and environment, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
60-90 minutes (varies depending on group size and project scope).
Ideal number of participants
10-30 people, divided into groups of 3-5 participants each.
Topics related to this activity
Collaborative PrioritizationCollective ReflectionCreative Problem SolvingIdea GenerationKnowledge BuildingMeaningful LearningParticipatory EvaluationStrategic PlanningSustainable Development
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