Agricultural like in the coming months? Why? extension agent/field • What are the main crops grown in your village? staff • What are the main constraints to agricultural production? • What agricultural technologies have been introduced in your village? How effective are they? Why? • What are the main sources of agricultural information? How accessible are they? • What are the main post-harvest losses? How can they be reduced? 9- Health and Assess health and nutrition • What are the main health problems in your village? nutrition situation and impact of How do they vary by season? project activities • What are

1. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3
Focus group discussions
I - What is a focus group discussion?
• A focus group discussion is a facilitated discussion among 8 to 12 carefully selected
participants. The idea is that group members discuss the topic among themselves, with
guidance from a facilitator.
• It is a method used to obtain in-depth qualitative information on perceptions and ideas
from a group of people who have something in common (e.g. they have a shared
interest in discussing the topic) or who are from similar background. Homogeneous
groups are indeed preferred because mixing age and gender groups may inhibit some
people, especially women or the youth, from expressing their views in front of others.
• Focus groups discussions are structured around a set of pre-determined questions –
usually no more than 10 – but the discussion should be free-flowing. Ideally,
participants’ comments will stimulate and influence the thinking and sharing of others.
• If facilitated well, focus group discussions can bring out rich and detailed information. It
generally stimulates rich responses and also provides a valuable opportunity to gain
insights into behaviours, attitudes, and feelings.
• It takes more than one focus group discussions on any one topic to produce valid results
– usually 3 or 4. You will know you have conducted enough groups (with the same set of
questions) when you are not hearing anything new anymore, i.e. you have reached a
point of saturation.
• Focus group discussions generate qualitative information and the output will be a
textual description of a situation. As such, findings will not be representative of the
views of the entire population. This is why focus group discussions are best used to
complement the findings of RIMS surveys or annual outcome surveys, for example to
understand better a specific finding emerging from these surveys.
II - Limitations of focus group discussions
• Facilitation of a focus group requires considerable skills – both in moderating the group
and in adequately recording the responses.
• The flexible format makes it susceptible to facilitator bias, which can undermine the
validity and reliability of findings.
• Discussions can be sidetracked or dominated by a few vocal individuals.
• The information can be difficult to analyze; comments should be interpreted in the
context of the group setting.

2. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
III – Before going to the field
• When preparing for an annual outcome/RIMS survey exercise, choose the topics to be
discussed in focus group discussions, and the specific information needs for each topic
(e.g. the information you need in order to know whether a particular outcome was
achieved and why/why not).
• The number of discussion topics to address in focus group will mainly depend on (i) the
number and type of project outcomes (some outcomes - such as agricultural production
increase - are best measured with quantitative methods) and (ii) the time and resources
available at project level (focus groups are cheaper and less time consuming than
surveys). See section V for more details on the choice of the discussion topics.
• For each discussion topic, prepare interview guides (ie. list of open-ended questions).
Section V provides examples of questions to include in interview guides. Include a short
narrative of the objective of the focus group in each interview guide, so that the
facilitator always has in mind the objective of the discussion and can refocus if
necessary.
• In the interview guide you can leave blank space under each question so that the
assistant facilitator can easily take note. In this case you will need to print one copy of
the interview guide for each focus group.
Example of a focus group interview guide outline
Name of moderator:
Name of assistant:
Location:
Date:
Discussion topic:
Objective of the focus group:
Number of participants:
Question 1
Question 2
Etc.
General comments:
• Pre-test the interview guides before going to the field. Pre-testing provides an
opportunity to determine whether wording of the questions is appropriate, whether
questions elicit discussion, and to identify questions that are not easily understood. Pre-
testing can be conducted during the training of enumerators.

3. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
IV – Data collection: how to conduct a focus group discussion
• At arrival in each village, talk to the village leader to present the work being carried out
and ask for permission to interview village members.
• You can conduct one or more focus group discussions in each village, but try not to
discuss different topics with the same group.
• Select participants for each focus group discussion. The selection of participants is
extremely important. Focus group participants should be able to provide relevant
information on the particular topic, and the group should be heterogeneous enough so
that various and diverse opinions can be shared. It may be a good idea to consult the
village leader(s) and field workers for identification of adequate focus groups
participants.
• Ideally, the focus group discussion should be led by a moderator and an assistant who
takes notes.
• Before starting the discussion, introduce the topic, explaining the objectives of the focus
group (e.g. “this discussion should help us understand what impact project activities
have had on women empowerment”).
• Explain that every participant is expected to contribute to the discussion. Example:
“Before we start, I would like to remind you that there are no right or wrong answers in
this discussion. We are interested in knowing what each of you think, so please feel free
to be frank and to share your point of view, regardless of whether you agree or disagree
with what you hear. It is very important that we hear all your opinions.”
• The discussion should take no more than one hour. 45 minutes is ideal; if it is longer
there is a risk of fatigue from the group participants.
• The focus group moderator has a responsibility to adequately cover all prepared
questions within the time allotted. S/he also has a responsibility to get all participants to
talk and fully explain their answers. Some helpful probes for this include:
- “Can you talk about that more?”
- “Help me understand what you mean”
- “Can you give an example?”
• Take detailed notes during the discussion. This will facilitate the analysis. Ideally, the
note taker should pre-analyse the results during the discussion, so that only the most
important points are recorded.

4. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
Source: WFP CFSVA guidelines, 2009
Source: WFP CFSVA guidelines, 2009

5. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
Facilitation skills: what would you do if…
o The Focus Group participants are very quiet, unresponsive and reluctant to answer your
questions.
o Some of the selected Focus Group participants are late in arriving.
o A number of other local people (who were not selected as Focus Group participants) want
to join the discussion.
o When your facilitation team arrives the local authorities have set up the venue so that you
have chairs and a table, but the participants have mats on the ground.
o The discussion on one topic goes on for much longer than expected.
o One of your data collection team is sick, or for another reason is unable to take part in the
planned focus groups on a certain day.
o The village leader wants to sit in on the focus group.
o Some of the selected Focus Group participants do not come at all.
o One Focus Group participant is dominating the discussion.
o The venue for the Focus Group is noisy or uncomfortable so that participants are distracted
during the discussion.
o Your facilitation team are unexpectedly invited to join the village chief / local authorities
for lunch, but you have arranged to leave in order to get to another Focus Group in the
afternoon.
o During the discussion some of the participants tell you about a serious problem (e.g.
community conflict, child abuse, corruption, economic exploitation by others) which you
feel it is important for the development programme to be aware of and/or take action on.
o The facilitator in your team forgets to ask some questions.
Source: Learning Unit 1.5b “Collecting and Recording Qualitative Data”. TDI 2.0 Capacity Building
Program. World Vision, 2009.

6. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
V - Discussion topics
Scenario A: A household outcome survey is being conducted1
• Focus group discussions will be conducted during the annual outcome survey field work,
in the same villages were households are interviewed.
• Since the survey will provide quantitative data for a certain number of outcomes, the
focus group discussions should focus on aspects that are not covered by the household
survey, or that need to be complemented by qualitative data.
• The table below provides a list of discussion topics and questions that can be used to
develop the interview guides.
Topic and Objective Examples of questions
participants
1- Gender and Assess the situation of women • What are the decision-making capacities of women
women in the community and the in the household? in community activities? Was
empowerment influence project activities there any change since the beginning of the project?
have had on gender dynamics
• What decisions are made by men and which by
Participants: in the community.
women?
Women The discussion should focus
beneficiaries • What different coping mechanisms are available to
on the current role of women
women and men to lessen the risk of food insecurity
in the community, compared
for their families?
to the previous year or the
situation before the project. • How do gender roles (e.g. workload, time, mobility)
influence the ability of women and men to
It should also enable the
participate in the project?
project team to understand
what makes the women more • What does empowerment mean to you? How does
powerful and how the this translate in every day life?
situation can be further
• Who is the family main income earner?
improved.
• Do women actively participate in micro-credit
related income generating activities? Was there a
change since the beginning of the project?
• Are there any women’s groups formed in the
village? Are they functioning? Why/why not?
• Do women have same access to loans as men? Was
there any change since the beginning of the project?
• What is the level of participation of women in social
gatherings, community meetings and in
development activities? Was there any change since
the beginning of the project?
• Do women have ownership or usufruct (right of
using and enjoying all the advantages and profits of
the property of another without altering or
damaging the substance) rights?
• Do you have control over the income you earn? Was
1
See TG1 for guidelines on how to conduct a household survey

7. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
Topic and Objective Examples of questions
participants
there any change since the beginning of the project?
• Do you observe any inequalities in work load, wage
rate, access to economic resources, between
women and men? Was there any change since the
beginning of the project?
2- Innovative Identify innovative practices • Have you recently developed new/innovative
practices put in place in the community practices for agricultural production? Livestock?
since the beginning of the Fish?
project.
Participants: Project • Do you observe new income generating activities in
beneficiaries The innovative practices can the village? What is new about them? Do they work
(farmers, fisher be anything that improved the well?
folks, pastoralists) living conditions of the
• Did the project give you ideas/opportunities for
community members (related
applying innovative practices
either to production increase,
social aspects, health etc..) • Do you know anyone whom you would qualify as an
innovative person. Why?
The data collection team must
be very clear on the definition
of an innovation.
3- Natural Assess whether natural • How do you consider the state of natural resources
resources resources are declining and if in your community? Has it been improving or
project activities have a declining in the recent years?
Participants: village positive impact on NRM.
• Has the project done anything to improve natural
members who earn If no impact, understand why resources management? How? Did you observe any
income from natural and discuss how better impact? Explain
resources effectiveness can be achieved.
• Patterns in access to land, water resources,
pastures, and other community resources.
• What is the land tenure system? Was it improved by
project? Do you have more access to land now?
• What are the main constraints and opportunities for
getting access to natural resources? Do you observe
a change since the beginning of project activities?
4- Sustainability Assess whether the • Are there any groups functioning in the village?
community will continue to Were they created by/for the project?
Participants: benefit from projects
• Do you think these groups will remain operational
beneficiaries, outcomes after the end of the
after the end of the project? Why/why not?
members of groups project. Why and how.
created by/for the • What are the activities that will/will not continue to
project have an impact after the project?
5- Microfinance Identify the microfinance • What types of financial institutions exist to support
services that work well and do economic activities in your community?
Participants: not work well in the village
• Do you have access to loans? What kind of loan?
members of saving and understand why.
groups, people • How many saving groups were formed in the
Assess whether the poorest
accessing credit, village?
households effectively benefit
people having
from microfinance schemes • How many are currently functional?

8. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
Topic and Objective Examples of questions
participants
difficulties in
(targeting) • What are the main problems encountered by the
accessing credit
saving groups?
• What are the main types of financial services
available in the village? Did financial services
improve since the beginning of the project?
Why/why not?
6- Project impact Capture unintended and/or • What have been the most significant changes in
undesirable effects of the your life since the beginning of project activities?
Participants: project at household and
• Are you satisfied about the project activities in your
Beneficiaries men village/community level.
village? Why/why not?
and women
Identify individuals for success
• Any success story on how project activities have
stories or case studies
impacted your life?
• Any negative impact of the project on your life? On
the village social structure?
7- Empowerment of Assess whether grassroots • Are there any farmers’ groups in the village?
grassroots institutions are effective and
• Do they participate in decision making at
institutions respond to the needs of the
project/local level?
community.
Participants:
• Are grassroots institutions available to self-monitor
grassroots Understand how they could
and evaluate their own progress?
organizations be more powerful and have
members more impact. • Change in capacity to market own production?
Identify problems and find • Terms and conditions of marketing arrangements?
solutions to make them more
• What are the different types of the organizations
effective.
that work in the community? What are their
activities? Who benefits? Any impact at
village/household level?
• What are the community-based groups currently
operating? What are their activities? Who benefits?
Scenario B: No household survey is being conducted
• Given that no quantitative/household level information will be gathered, outcome
assessment will be based only on qualitative information generated through focus
group discussions and key informant interviews.
• For each discussion topic, 3-4 villages must be selected. Villages can be selected
according to the type of project activities conducted. For example, focus groups on NR
will be conducted in villages with large number of NRM activities. For gender issues,
villages with gender activities are selected, etc.
• The table below gives examples of discussion topics for projects where no household
survey is conducted. These topics must be considered in addition to topics provided for
scenario A.

9. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
Topic and
Objective Suggested questions
participants
8- Agricultural Assess levels of agricultural • How do you manage getting access to food in times
technologies and production and recent of scarcity?
production trends
• For how many months can you meet your own
Participants: Farmers/ consumption from your own production or from
producers your own cash?
• What do you think the food security situation will be
in the next 6 months? Is this normal for your
community?
9- Markets Understand whether access • Were roads constructed or rehabilitated in the area?
to markets has improved Are they functioning well?
Participants: farmers,
and how marketing
people who get an • Are they used to go to the market? Why/why not?
opportunities can be
income from selling
further developed for small • Do you use any storage facilities? Processing
products at the
farmers facilities?
market
• Have they been improved since the beginning of the
project?
10- Enterprise Assess whether new • Are there more employment opportunities in the
development and employment opportunities area since the beginning of the project?
employment have arisen in the
• Why/why not?
community as a result of
project activities • Do you observe more enterprises now than few
years ago? Do you know many community members
who have created their own enterprise? Did they
receive any help from the project?
• Do you know of any enterprise that graduated from
micro to small or from small to medium?
11- Social Understand how social • Any social infrastructure constructed by the project?
infrastructure infrastructure are used and Is it functioning? Is it sustainable?
whether they respond to
Participants: users of • Is the infrastructure used by the community? By
the needs of the community
the social whom exactly? Are users satisfied about the
infrastructure, infrastructure?
members of the
• Problems related to the use and management of the
management team
social infrastructure?
12- Quality of project Assess the perception of • How would you assess the quality of the training
services the beneficiaries as regard attended?
to the quality of project
Participants: project • Did the training respond to your needs?
services, and identify
beneficiaries who
measures for improvement • Did you apply any new technique since you received
received training or
the training? If not, why?
participated in activity
conducted by a • Are there any extension services provided in the
partner (NGO, MoA community?
staff, etc.)
• How do you consider their quality? It is improving or
deteriorating?

10. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
V- Analysing and reporting the results of focus group discussions
• The analysis of the focus groups results is basically a consolidation of summaries of the
interviews.
• As per household surveys, the analysis should be guided by the performance questions
of the project.
The following section is adapted from WFP CFSVA guidelines:
The analyst of qualitative data is expected to pull together the summaries from the focus groups
and produce a global picture. The analyst (or the person responsible for writing the report) may
be a different person from the focus group facilitator. She/he may not be familiar with the
language of the discussion. It is therefore crucial to have the facilitators and the analyst sit down
together for a proper translation of the summaries.
If the note taker and facilitator took notes and summarized the results following a standard
template, the analysis can proceed with the following steps:
1. Consolidate focus group responses: Pull into one table the summaries of the focus groups.
Read all the tables and recode the answers: give the same label to similar answers. For instance,
if one focus group reported “food vendor” and another reported “vegetable vendor,” recode; if
judged similar in the local context, these answers can use the same label (e.g. “food vendor” for
both).
2. Arrange the rows for each table separately so that all the responses of one focus group are
in the same row: Do this for all the tables (focus groups). At the end, all the tables should be
transformed into rows and the final qualitative data table should have as many rows as the
number of focus groups.
Source: WFP CFSVA guidelines http://www.wfp.org/content/comprehensive-food-security-and-
vulnerability-analysis-cfsva-guidelines-first-edition
How to structure open-ended information for easy analysis
a) produce a short summary of the main points mentioned by each respondent for each
question
b) look over the responses. Once you have looked at about 25% of the responses, note the
points most frequently mentioned. Then read all the responses and divide the responses into
those “for” or “against” a certain issue, or by degree of enthusiasm about an issue.
c) take out any important quote to emphasis certain points and make the analysis more lively
d) ask other people to look over the responses to prevent your own biases taking over the way
you interpret the responses
e) number each respondent
f) following the list of points you developed in step b above, number the main points. Through
this numbered coding system, prioritise, summarise and then analyse the information.
Source: IFAD M&E guidelines p.D-15
Links
On-line training module on focus group discussion:

11. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No3 - Focus group discussions
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-56615-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Tips for conducting focus groups interviews:
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaby233.pdf
WFP technical guidance sheet on qualitative data analysis:
http://www.wfp.org/content/technical-guidance-sheet-no9-qualitative-data-collection-and-
analysis-food-security-assessments