Grounding action in dignity,
co-creation and shared responsibility.
People Centered Matrix
Turning comparative advantage into coordinated action
The People Centered Matrix is a practical tool used during Step 3 of the Roadmap, when actors come together to co-create an action plan. It brings the principle of comparative advantage into practice — by focusing not on who should lead, but on what each actor is best placed to contribute.
Rather than asking: “Who’s in charge?”, the Matrix reframes the question: “What can each actor contribute — and at what level?”
By examining the risks and concerns raised by communities, the Matrix helps clarify roles, responsibilities and added value. It makes visible how everyone — from grassroots groups and local organizations to international NGOs and funders—holds a different piece of the solution.
The Matrix is not about doing everything. It’s about doing what you do best and recognizing that meaningful collaboration happens when each actor leads where they are strongest. It promotes shared responsibility, avoids duplication and ensures that action is coherent, coordinated and locally grounded.
Ultimately, it reminds us: people-centered responses require not just participation, but purposeful alignment and mutual respect across all levels of action.
© All rights reserved.
The displayed graphic is the intellectual property of People Centered Marta Pawlak and is protected by copyright law.