Assessing the state of the village is the first step that must be taken by each village in order to obtain initial data for the preparation of plans and find out the problems that exist in the village to be solved.

There are two objectives of assessing village conditions or village social maps;

1. Facilitate the community to identify and assess problems that are felt to interfere with their welfare, and WHY these problems occur. It is hoped that this study will serve as material for preparing a village-level Activity Plan that will truly address the real needs of the village community.

2. Facilitate the community to identify and assess their potential, or to answer HOW the community's own ways to overcome it, based on available resources. This study was conducted so that the preparation of the Activity Plan prioritizes the ability of self-help communities rather than 'help from others'.

The Village SDGs data that has been published in the Village Information System must be owned by the Guiding Team before the discussion is carried out. Determine the target of the focus group/focused discussion to be facilitated.
Determination of target groups is based on: the number of existing hamlets, the number of interest groups (farmer groups, fishermen, women, poor families, and others)

Form a Guide/Facilitator Team that will facilitate the discussion. The Guiding Team, consisting of at least 3 people, with their respective functions: Discussion Guide, Discussion Recorder, Discussion Observer.

Determine the research methods and tools to be used. The assessment tools/methods to be used are Social mapping/village sketch, problem tree study, institutional diagram, and seasonal calendar. Determine the implementation schedule. Agree on the schedule for the discussion in each hamlet and group. Then report the schedule to the village head for support. Provide briefing to the Guide Team. Briefing needs to be given to the discussion guide team so that they understand the use of the tools/assessment tools that will be used.

Conduct preparatory visits to ensure the readiness of participants in each hamlet location and interest group.

Prepare the tools needed in social mapping/assessment of village conditions. Prepare discussion facilitation aids in the form of large colorful markers, sufficient saddle paper, a recording device, and a notebook.

Report the planned Social Mapping activity to the Village Head. The Guiding Team needs to submit a preparatory report and a plan for the implementation of a focused/directed discussion to the Village Head for support.

The implementation of Social Mapping through focused discussion is carried out based on an agreed schedule. The steps for facilitating the discussion, starting with the use of a village sketch study tool/village social map, are then completed with a problem study/problem tree, seasonal calendar, and institutional diagrams. Ensure that the Village SDGs Data has been obtained from the Village Information System (SID). Preparatory visits to groups that will be the target of village condition assessments.

Thus, all problems in the village can be directly seen in the social map that has been compiled and described with the data they have. So that village planning can answer all the problems that have occurred so far.