What is co-creating a joint historic timeline & understanding?
Building on an appreciative inquiry approach, this method engages participants in co-creating a shared timeline of key drivers, events, and patterns of change related to agriculture, the environment and the interactions between them. It helps make visible how different people perceive and remember change, and what milestones have shaped current realities.
Why do we use this method?
To better understand how other actors view the past and what they see as significant turning points
To foster long-term thinking by recognizing historical trends and transitions
To avoid repeating past mistakes or duplicating previous efforts
To draw lessons from the past
When is it useful?
This method is particularly useful during the early stages of food systems projects (especially in brainstorming or scoping phases) when teams aim to build a shared foundation for action, supporting mutual understanding.
How do we do this?
Engage a diverse group of stakeholders with long-standing involvement or knowledge of the topic or area
Focus on a specific theme or geographic area
Use facilitated sessions to collaboratively map key events, changes, and milestones over time
Examples of our work
