The importance of being “linked” Some relational maps on health and nutrition in Migori County

Are Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques useful to identify and map relations among key actors in development areas? In particular, is this technique able to disentangle the complexity of formal and informal actors involved in health and nutrition issues? Using this methodology we map relations among formal and informal actors living in Kenya, in Migori County. We map the actual links among different stakeholders in order to highlight how best practices can be improved. The analysis aims at detecting how different actors (i.e. institutions, community health workers and income generating activities groups) interact in order to share knowledge and information on health and nutrition projects. In this way we identify the main characteristics of the relations and understand how to enforce strengths and to reduce weaknesses, in order to enforce the projects implemented.