학술논문
Networking for development: a network analysis of a development programme between Europe and Latin America
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Author
Source
TDX (Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa)
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
La investigación tiene como objetivo demostrar que algunos aspectos críticos de la cooperación para el desarrollo pueden ser abordados a través del fortalecimiento de las redes dentro de las políticas y programas de desarrollo, y que las actividades de networking, si apropiadamente planificadas, aplicadas y monitoreadas, pueden contribuir al éxito a largo plazo de dichas acciones. Afirmamos que es necesario avanzar hacia un nuevo paradigma de desarrollo, y abogamos por un mayor uso de métodos y herramientas capaces de representar las prácticas de desarrollo en términos no sólo de “actores”, sino también de “redes de actores”. Desde el punto de vista teórico, la principal aportación es el enfoque de Networking for Development, una nueva forma de considerar las redes dentro de la cooperación al desarrollo, definiéndolas como agregaciones múltiactor entre donantes, receptores y intermediarios, que deben tener un papel clave en las actividades de desarrollo. Para validar el enfoque propuesto, se han analizado las redes de @LIS, un programa financiado por la Comisión Europea en el periodo 2002- 2006 centrado en la cooperación Europa-América Latina en el área de la sociedad de la información. Mediante el uso de Social Network Analysis (SNA), acercado a una observación etnográfica, hemos explorado las actividades de colaboración que tuvieron lugar entre los actores de este programa, visualizando cómo se desarrolló la red y centrándonos en explicar el impacto del networking sobre diferentes aspectos de la cooperación al desarrollo.
The research aims to demonstrate that some critical aspects of development cooperation can be tackled by strengthening networking within development policies and programmes, and that networking activities, if properly planned, applied and monitored, can contribute to the long-term success of development actions. We claim that a renewed theoretical framework is needed in order to advance towards a networking-intensive paradigm of development cooperation. We also advocate for an increased use of specific networking methods and tools, which are able to represent development practices in terms not only of actors, but also of networks. From a theoretical framework point of view, the main contribution is the concept of networking for development, a new way to consider networking activities within development cooperation. Within this notion, development networks, defined as open multistakeholder aggregations of donors, receivers and intermediaries as well as other relevant actors, should have a primary role within development activities and should do so starting from their own priorities and concerns. In order to validate the networking for development concept by using networking-specific methods and tools, we have analysed the networking history of @LIS, a European Commission funded programme that was run from 2002 to 2006 focusing on Europe-Latin America cooperation in the information society. By using Social Network Analysis (SNA) enriched with field observation, we have explored the networking and collaboration activities that took place among the @LIS stakeholders by visualising how the network developed and by focussing on cases that explain the observed dynamics.
The research aims to demonstrate that some critical aspects of development cooperation can be tackled by strengthening networking within development policies and programmes, and that networking activities, if properly planned, applied and monitored, can contribute to the long-term success of development actions. We claim that a renewed theoretical framework is needed in order to advance towards a networking-intensive paradigm of development cooperation. We also advocate for an increased use of specific networking methods and tools, which are able to represent development practices in terms not only of actors, but also of networks. From a theoretical framework point of view, the main contribution is the concept of networking for development, a new way to consider networking activities within development cooperation. Within this notion, development networks, defined as open multistakeholder aggregations of donors, receivers and intermediaries as well as other relevant actors, should have a primary role within development activities and should do so starting from their own priorities and concerns. In order to validate the networking for development concept by using networking-specific methods and tools, we have analysed the networking history of @LIS, a European Commission funded programme that was run from 2002 to 2006 focusing on Europe-Latin America cooperation in the information society. By using Social Network Analysis (SNA) enriched with field observation, we have explored the networking and collaboration activities that took place among the @LIS stakeholders by visualising how the network developed and by focussing on cases that explain the observed dynamics.