How can you use power analysis to build more equitable partnerships with community members?

1 What is power analysis?

Power analysis is a process of identifying and assessing the sources and forms of power that shape a situation or issue. Power can be visible, hidden, or invisible, and it can operate at different levels, such as individual, interpersonal, organizational, or systemic. Power analysis can help you answer questions such as: Who has power over what? How is power exercised and resisted? What are the consequences of power imbalances? How can power be shifted or shared?

3 How to conduct power analysis?

There is no one-size-fits-all method for conducting power analysis, but there are some common steps and tools that you can use. First, you need to define your purpose and scope, and decide who will be involved in the process. Second, you need to gather and analyze data and information, using tools such as stakeholder mapping, power matrices, power cubes, or power flow diagrams. Third, you need to interpret and validate your findings, and identify key insights and implications. Fourth, you need to use your power analysis to inform your action planning and implementation, and monitor and evaluate your progress and impact.

4 How to use power analysis to build equitable partnerships?

Power analysis can be used to build equitable partnerships by engaging community members as co-researchers and co-designers, sharing power and resources, and supporting their capacity and agency. It is important to create spaces for dialogue, feedback, and accountability, as well as collaborate on common goals and strategies while respecting autonomy and diversity. This means being aware of the power dynamics in the community and actively seeking to address them.

5 What are the benefits of using power analysis to build equitable partnerships?

Power analysis can be a useful tool for building equitable partnerships in your community organizing work, as it can increase your credibility and relevance, while also strengthening your resilience and enabling you to respond to changing contexts. Additionally, power analysis can contribute to advancing social justice and equity goals, ultimately leading to the transformation of power structures and systems.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?