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What makes networks effective in influencing the policy

This case study explores the importance of networking in influencing policy in European development cooperation. It discusses the objectives and activities of the SID European Programme, highlighting the role of conferences, focal points, and networks of parliamentarians, policy makers, academics, and NGOs. The study also examines a successful networking exercise and how constraints were overcome through partnerships with EADI and Euforic. The benefits of networking for influencing policy are highlighted, including the creation of the Agenda for Action document presented at a meeting of EU Member States.

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What makes networks effective in influencing the policy

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  1. What makes networks effective in influencing the policy SID – EDC 2010 A European case of networking in practice Euforic AGM London, 2 June 2005 Gordana Stanković SID European Programme

  2. What is SID European Programme ? • LT Goals of the European Programme • clear realisation of the external responsibility of Europe in all Member States • giving the Member States instruments and discourse with which they can convince their own constituencies of the necessity of development cooperation model based on solidarity • ensuring that the EU development policy and aid delivery must form a part of coherent external relations, underpinned by effective multilateralism • ensuring that all the EU members state act appropriately in order to support their commitments made at Monterrey conference to increase ODA levels substantially by 2006 and beyond as to contribute to global effort to double ODA volumes and progress in harmonised aid delivery, which is essential for meeting MDGs • Better visibility of European development cooperation on European and national levels, with a clear mandate for the Commission

  3. Main Project Activities Are instruments to help achievement of the LT goals and in themselves objectives of the current 3-year project: • Conferences at European/Internationallevel: Vienna 2003 and The Hague 2004 • Establishing and/or strengthening focal points in at least 10 EU MS (end eventually all MS) with a mandate to raise public and political awareness as well as to help to define the development cooperation policies of these countries • Strengthening network of concerned parliamentarians and policy makers concerned with European development cooperation and policy, and bridging it to networks of academic institutions and NGOs

  4. SID – EDC 2010 a case of networking • Why network? • To further extend its network away from its traditional parliamentarian support base to a more academic, research and NGO fields. • To ensure that the European programme follows multidisciplinary and coherent approach to the development issues • To use its own resources and strengths most effectively and efficiently while at the same time relay on work already done by other partners in the network in their field of expertise (i.e. research, electronic network) • Fundraising reasons, applying together for funds for future activities, complementing each other rather than competing for same funds.

  5. How? • By choosing the right partners, which have brought to the partnership what SID was ‘lacking’ i.e. a stronger institutional network • EADI and the EDC 2010 Initiative brought to the partnership its network of members from academic and research institutes, together with the wealth of knowledge and research on issues regarding the EDC and policy • Euforic brought to the partnership its network of civil society organisations and individulas both in the North and South, together withits expertise in the internet information on international development cooperation

  6. Europe and the South: A New EraEuropean Development Cooperation.Towards policy renewal and new committmentSID/EDC 2010 International Conference The Hague 27-28 September 2004 • Above was an example of successful networking ‘exercise’ • Strengths and constraints SID had in preparing the conference: • SID has a strong network of influencial individuals rather than institutional network, which enable it to: • secure funds, • secure participation from influencial individuals both as speakers and participants, • open doors to some high level political meetings • SID was constrained by: • limited time, only 8 months to organise it • Limited human resources • Limited research and academic resources • Limited contacts among CS actors outside SID own network, especially in the South

  7. The way the constraints were overcome: • Partnership with EADI/EDC 2010: • Brought in speakers and participants from the academic and research world • Already existing research on EDC issue briefing and policy papers prepared for EDC 2010 project used as briefing documents for the conference • Partnership with Euforic • Brought in speakers and participants from CS, especially the South • Organised an e-debate from the Southern perspective on the issues covered in the conference • Managed the European programme website • Both organisationalso • Helped with more general tasks of the conference (i.e. logistical, PR, etc), • By working in partnership with the two network organisations a feeling of common European purpose was created

  8. LT benefits of the networking for this one off event • Agenda for Action a short document ofmain findings of the conference to be used for influencing the policy theAgenda presented at the meeting of Chairpersons of Commitees on FA of the 25 EU MS in Luxemburg 14 February 2005 Lux Minister Schiltz present as well. • Activities in NMS SID & EADI together with EADI members to organise with a purpose to inform the debate and raise awarness about EDC and policy through EDC 2010 • Stronger network of main stakeholders in the development debate Individual and organisational links made in the Hague between policy makers, parliamentarians, researchers and CS are being further strengthened, with hope to be able to influence policy in the future. Face to face contact cannot be underestimated • Other SID Activities - SID (through Euforic) made important contact in Latin America, which have been used for SID NL Latin American lecture series

  9. What can be improved and lessons learned • We still need to find a way of ensuring and measuring influence that we have had and may have on policy, both on development and implementation of • More (pro)active involvement in networks of which SID is a member (i.e. Euforic) to reap even more benefits • More permanent involvement and cooperation with other organisations on issues and activities of mutual interest, cooperation instead of competition- finding the ways to create a win-win situation for all involved • Involve actively a larger number of organisations and in particular influencial individuals, which should give greater political weight to the network

  10. What makes networks effective in influencing the policy SID – EDC 2010 A European case of networking in practice Euforic AGM London, 2 June 2005 Gordana Stanković SID European Programme

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