Strengthening humanitarian networks: Applying the network functions approach

This note by Ben Ramalingam (ALNAP), Enrique Mendizabal (ODI) and Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop (ICVA) offers a simple, flexible and powerful methodology — the network functions approach (NFA) — that can be applied to analyse and strengthen humanitarian and development networks. Based on research undertaken at ODI and elsewhere, the NFA suggests there are six overlapping functions that different networks perform in varying combinations. Through reflection on a network’s current activities and how they relate to each of these functions, the NFA helps those facilitating, acting within or supporting networks to work towards an ‘ideal’ functional mix. The aim is for network strategies to be honed, thinking clarified, activities sharpened and ultimately, humanitarian performance improved.

New website on Communities of Practice

SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) has established a new website on Communities of Practice with concepts, examples and resources.

Source resources on networking

Background documents on netwoking for development and evaluating networks.

RAPID resources on networks

ODI's RAPID programme's current research on networks

IISD resources on networks and partnerships

Links to IISD papers and case studies.

Networks and Capacity: A theme paper prepared for the study 'Capacity, Change and Performance'

New ECDPM paper, written by Joe Bolger and Suzanne Taschereau, which aims to contribute to the conceptual understanding of capacity and capacity development in networks and to explore implications for practice.

Revisiting Communities of Practice: From fishermen guilds to the global village

In this new paper (May 2006), Miguel Cornejo Castro revisits communities of practice (CoP): "We've been running with a model that grew out of a very specific situation that is no longer predominant. If we want a model that truly reflects modern CoP behaviour, we need to take into account a number of changes that have affected CoPs - the same ones that have propelled them to their current number and role. Those changes affect the roles of familiar parts of the model, and highlight the emergence of new elements like the "conversational space" and privately-owned resources."

Identifying Communities of Practice through Storytelling

Article by Seth Kahan and Madelyn Blair on on the use of storytelling to identify communities of practice at the World Bank.

Communities of Practice: Lessons from Latin America

These reflections serve as an introduction to the theme of communities of practice. Some criteria for starting and ensuring the continuity of communities of practice emerged from dicussion in Mexico City and from five case studies.

More Sustainable Participation? Multi-Stakeholder Platforms for Integrated Catchment Management

"This paper argues for realistic expectations of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs). MSPs are currently a hot topic in the water policy community, despite voices of disillusionment with participation in development work. Research carried out in Peru, Argentina, India, South Africa and Belgium suggests that platforms certainly can prove helpful networks in communication on and management of competing claims to water, managing coordination problems, coalition-building and/ or visioning. However, experience has put paid to implicit and explicit expectations from platforms, especially with a view to the integration of knowledge and actors."