Sucess Factors for Networking: Learning from others' experience

This page provides you with relevant information and links to relevant networking experience made in the past years in and around SDC. Success factors have been selected from the various examples

1.) SDRA – Skills Development in Rural Areas

SDRA theses (12 theses for working on Skills Development in Rural Areas) have been worked out in an interactive platform discussion during the period lasting from spring 2003 till summer 2005. The draft theses have been shaped in a face to face workshop with participants of the platform discussion. The final version has been finalized in June 2006.

SDRA process has been described first as a SDC learning practice, available on the SDC Intraweb since 2005.

"Learning Network for exploring a theme" (SDRA reflection 2008) presents a look back after three years: description of the procedure, key issues of a platform discussion and reflections on assuring long term ownership are considered in this paper.

Contact: Malte Lipczinski, SDC, Dhaka (Bangladesh); Ueli Scheuermeier and Ernst Bolliger, Agridea, Lindau


2.) VCRD – Value Chains in Rural Areas

VCRD – Value Chains in Rural Areas, launched by SDC in 2004 to 2007, has been a series of platform discussions in order to work out a state of the art paper in the domain of Value chains in rural areas. The procedure is very close to the discussion on SDRA. So, the VCRD analysis focuses on time need for facilitation and organising the different discussion cycles.

Donor Interventions in Value Chain Development (working paper) summarises briefly the contents of the platform discussion.

Contact: Andreas Gerrits, SDC, Berne; Daniel Roduner, Agridea, Lindau


3.) COOF Net – an emerging challenge: Learning within and among COOFs

SDC launched a discussion around the theme "COOF Learning": How do the different COOF organise their Learning, both, expatriate staff as well as national staff? The e-discussion did not show the expected dynamics. The paper "COOF-Net – an emerging challenge" analyses the shortcomings of the approach and states lessons learnt and challenges for the future.

Contact: Manuel Flury, SDC; Berne; Ueli Scheuermeier and Ernst Bolliger, Agridea, Lindau


4.) SAO/DDC: Réseaux Thématiques

In its paper "Réseaux thématiques de la section SAO/SDC" SDC West Africa section has analysed briefly its experience with thematic networks. Success factors and factors for failure are identified. It is a short, helpful and practical reflection (in French).

Contact: Sabine Schenk, SDC, Berne.


5.) Helvetas Communities of Practice

Helvetas organised its own knowledge management in a number of CoPs, all internal to Helvetas. The paper "Supporting Thematic Communities: The Helvetas Experience" summarises briefly the experience made with this internal form of networking.

In "Recommendations on Helvetas Face-to-Face Workshops", Helvetas reflects its experience in organising this kind of thematic interaction.

Contact: Riff Fullan, Helvetas Zurich


6.) Aguasan – a Community of Practice in the Water and Sanitation Section

Aguasan – Learning from a Community of Practice (Final Report) presents 20 years of Aguasan CoP experience in an attractive form on roughly 20 pages. Worth reading for all who tend to understand better the phenomenon of a CoP. (http://www.communityofpractice.ch/en/Home/Examples/Aguasan).

The Aguasan Workshop – A successful Learning Platform described as a SDC Learning Practice:
The annual Aguasan Workshop offers a learning platform to practitioners in the domain of water and sanitation. The paper contains the basic structure of the successful workshops.

Contact: François Münger, SDC, Berne; Roger Schmid, SKAT, St.Gallen, Sylvia Brunold, Agridea, Lindau


7.) NI – Neuchâtel Initiative

NI – Neuchâtel Initiative is a network of donors with the objective to practice an informal donor consultation on agricultural extension and rural development issues. The aim is a coordination / harmonization of the donor approaches.

The Neuchâtel Initiative (2004 "State of the art Papier") provides general information and a nice overview (in German).

NI Beispiel eines funktionierenden Netzwerks und einer Community of Practice is a PowerPoint presentation (14 slides) focusing on process, structure and results of the NI approach (in German).

The NI History 1995-99 shows the dynamic development from the first meeting in Neuchâtel through a period of search for the appropriate form to the informal consultation platform it used to be for the last ten years.

Twelve years of the Neuchâtel Initiative – What comes next? is a PowerPoint presentation (15 slides) focusing on structure, process, results and possible new visionsof the NI approach.

Learning together in an informal network: Neuchâtel Initiative (NI) is a description of the NI approach, focused on learning processes (series of SDC learning practice, SDC Intranet).

More information about NI: http://www.communityofpractice.ch/en/Home/Examples/Neuchatel_Initiative

Contact: Daniel Roduner, Agridea, Lindau
Web: http://www.neuchatelinitiative.net/


8.) ISPINE (Improving Support Practices for International Networks/Partnerships Effectiveness) is a study about 13 institutional networks and partnerships SDC is member of.

The ISPINE Study presents and discusses key features of networking: Scope, governance structure, management, information and communication modalities, funding, and accountability. A special focus is made on SDC's contributions (funds, contents, human resources) and SDC's interests and strategy in institutional networks.

Contact: Alex Widmer, SDC, Berne.


9.) International Networks for Knowledge Sharing: Lessons Learnt?

The SKAT Publication "International Networks for Knowledge Sharing: Lessons Learnt?" are short guidelines for managing a network. The recommendations are based on three case studies: RWSN (Rural Water Supply Network), CWG (Collaborative Working Group on Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries), and basin (Building Advisory Service and Information Network) and cover the main issues of vision – mission – goals, governance structure, members and partners, management, and knowledge sharing.

Contact: Bertha Camacho, SKAT, St.Gallen
Web: http://www.skat.ch/


10.) Work the Net (GtZ / SKAT publication)

Work the Net is one of the standard publications about managing networks. A careful introduction into basics of networking with a special focus on management issues in networking. Practical examples and several checklists provide lots of helpful hints for practitioners.
The checklists are available as a separate file.

Contact: Bertha Camacho, SKAT, St.Gallen.


11.) KM4Dev (Knowledge Management for Development)

KM4Dev is a SDC supported network of practitioners in knowledge management for development cooperation. Several hundred members are networking on a platform. The main communication tools are a d-groups based discussion platform, linked to a website with a wiki area on which discussions are summarised by KM4Dev members. KM4Dev organises an annual face-to-face workshop.

Contact: Manuel Flury, SDC, Berne; Ernst Bolliger, Agridea, Lindau
Web: http://www.km4dev.org/


CP2, PTD (St. Ulrich Group), Linking Local Learners, OMLC (Outcome Mapping Learning Community) are four examples of member driven networks without organisational mandate and funding. All these networks communicate with platform discussions, a web page and annual workshops. These networks are not further commented in the following table.

CP2 is a CoP for CoP activists (owners, facilitators, core group members). Its main goal is knowledge and experience sharing regarding CoP facilitation and management.
Contact: Ueli Scheuermeier, Agridea
Web: http://cpsquare.org/

PTD (St. Ulrich Group) is a network of practitioners in Participatory Technology Development, a research development approach focused on the domain of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Contact: Ueli Scheuermeier, Agridea
Web: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PTD-forum

Linking Local Learners is a network aiming at fostering the accessibility of rural people to ITC communication, with a main focus on African rural areas.
Contact: Ueli Scheuermeier, Agridea
Web: http://www.linkinglearners.net/

OMLC (Outcome Mapping Learning Community) is a network of practitioners and consultants of the Outcome Mapping planning, monitoring and evaluation approach.
Contact: Daniel Roduner and Carsten Schulz, Agridea Lindau


What to read in this table?

X = Relevant experience may be found in the documentation of the respective networks, on their websites or in the interaction with members of the networks.

The networks referred to are described above. Click on the numbers in the header of the table to get to the respective network description.

The success factors are listed below.

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

9.)

10.)

11.)

Prerequisites

Committed members: active contributions by participants

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Favourable organisational context

X

X

X

X

Ownership (focal person, core group)

X

X

Mutual trust (shared values and cultural pre-concepts)

X

X

X

X

X

X

Goal / objectives

X

Clear mandate (top-down by management)

X

X

X

X

X

X

Utilisation focused (bottom-up by member basis)

X

X

X

X

X

Clear, unique aim (vision, mission, goal, objectives)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Concept paper of the network

X

X

Benefits for the organisation

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Benefits for participants

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Structure of the network

Suitable structure of the network (onion model);

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Clear key roles (coordinator, facilitator, experts, secretary)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Professional core group

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Legal status

X

Regionalisation (link between regional and global)

X

X

X

Clearly defined members' rights and duties

X

X

X

X

Self management of the group

X

X

X

X

X

Working groups for specific issues

X

X

X

Planning activities

Scheduled activities

X

X

X

Thematic discussion organised in cycles

X

X

X

X

Contents

Thematic focus clear, open, but not too broad

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Topic with direct link to day to day challenges

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Processes / functioning

Communication platform with appropriate technology)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Face to face meetings (1 /

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Common language (E, F, S, …) / translation service

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Common level of interest

X

X

X

X

X

Peer relations

X

X

X

X

X

X

Communication concept (inside & outside)

X

X

X

X

Monitoring, controlling

X

X

X

Resources

Thematic competence

X

X

X

X

Support from superiors / donors

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Support from competence centres

X

X

X

X

Time resources

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Funding

X

X

X

X

X

X

Results

Concrete products

X

X

X

X

X

Success stories

X

X

X

X

X

X

On http://www.communityofpractice.ch ("Launching a network") you find relevant documents about networks or communities mentioned in the above table.

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