Network Resources

This section lists additional resources useful in supporting networks.

Network Theory and Case Studies (Use to Design and Justify the Use of Networks)

Resource: Maintaining Civic Space in Backsliding Regimes Author/Source: USAID (2017) Use: to help you design and justify the use of network in closed and closing spaces Key quotes or lessons: “Alliances and Coalition-Building Coalition building and the forging of alliances among groups in civil society, both within and across borders, can be an important strategy for maintaining civic space in the face of democratic backsliding. Multiple studies confirm that where civil society groups form alliances, they are more likely to achieve success (Risley 2015, Kingstone et al. 2013, Fisher 2014, Schilling-Vacaflor 2011, Silva 2015). This is so for several reasons: 1. Alliances increase the pool of resources available to groups.  2. Because of their greater size, large alliances are more legitimate among domestic peers and harder for the regime to repress.  3. Alliances can often better articulate a clear and common message to multiple audiences (Risley 2006).  4. Redundancies can be avoided and time and resources better managed when groups with similar demands are able to coordinate.  5. Groups working in alliances may be more likely to experience and learn principles of democratic governance (Karatnycky and Ackerman 2005).”

Resource: High‐Risk Collective Action: Defending Human Rights in Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina Author/Source: Mara Loveman Use: When designing network programming in closed and closing spaces Key quote or lessons: This article begins by giving an overview of social movement theories and high-risk collection action. “In short, explanations for collective action involve multiple variables whose influence in particular instances of collective action is complexly and contingently interrelated.” It then uses three case studies to explain the development and success factors for collective action in high risk environments namely Chile, Uruguay and Argentina.

• “Variations in repressive strategies across countries and over time subjected activists to different sets of risks and constraints in their efforts to create and sustain HROs. Differences existed both in the opportunity structure and the perception of risk for human rights activists. Such differences help to account for variations in the participation and timing of HROs in these countries, as the nature and extent of physical and psychological repression confronted by potential participants shaped their perceptions of the risks and opportunities.” – p. 486

• “Comparative historical analysis employing a synthetic theoretical framework facilitates identification of those social processes that influence the emergence of collective action in high-risk contexts that are generalizable across cases with the consequent potential to generate theory. This approach illuminates how particular configurations of ‘variables’ affect outcomes.” – p. 518

Toolkits and Applied Resources (Use to Implement and Measure Networks)

Resource: Monitoring and Evaluating Learning Networks Author/Source: INTRAC (2010) Use: to help you consider MEL options for support networks (they are called learning networks in the document) Key quotes or lessons: “In many learning networks, the following elements are important to look at: 1. Learning activities (what done, frequency, quality, relevance, costs); 2. Members’ engagement in activities (use of services); 3. Learning outputs (knowledge generated); 4. Learning outcomes and impact (the learning group objectives); 5. Relationships developed between members; 6. Learning for others outside the group. The first three elements can be seen as inner ripples which should be continually monitored. The second three are outer ripples and are more appropriate to analyze during periodic evaluations.”

Resource: Network Strengthening Toolkit Author/Source: PACT (2018) Use: To help you analyze and strengthen existing networks – including ones that are informal or hard to measure. Key Quotes or Lessons: This toolkit helpfully notes that network membership is sometimes ambiguous, and thus hard to measure. Accordingly, it organizes networks by whether they are formal or informal, which may be a useful distinction for some of the unintended or loosely organized networks that arise in the course of IRI programming.

“Before network analysis can take place, we first need to scan the environment and identify the key actors that are affected by the identified systemic challenge. Once the network has been identified, you will need to identify members in the networks that are engaged in the systemic problem. In individual formal networks, there is usually an established membership, so the network should have a database of registered members or a list of represented organizations that are part of the network. This will help you identify the organizations or individuals you will need to include in your analysis. In informal or semi-formal networks, it may not be easy to identify who is included in the network because it lacks a formal structure.”

Resource: Network Health Scorecard Author/Source: Network Impact (2009) Use: To provide an example of a network measurement scorecard that could be further tailored

Resource: USAID Learning Resource Center Author/Source: USAID Learning Lab Use: To help implementing partners access resources, case studies, and examples of how a learning network can facilitate a peer-to-peer learning approach that can be highly effective at documenting and sharing knowledge between donors and implementing partners to help strengthen a particular technical area. A learning network is one tool that can help support the implementation of USAID's collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approach throughout the Program Cycle.

Resource: The Complete Guide to Facebook Groups: How to Create a Group, Build a Community, and Increase Your Organic Reach Author/Source: Buffer

Resource: How to Run a Successful WhatsApp Group Author/Source: Forbes

Sources Referenced in the Network Field Guide

Source: Maintaining Civic Space in Backsliding Regimes Author/Source: USAID

Source: Anti-Corruption Collective Action: Success factors, sustainability and strategies Author/Source: International Centre for Collective Action: Basel Institute on Governance

Source: Making Children’s Rights Real Author/Source: A.M. Gadda, Et. Al - The International Journal of Human Rights

Source: Harnessing Informality (Pt. 2): What could a network intervention to tackle anti-corruption look like? Author/Source: Claudia Baez Camargo - ACE Global Integrity

Source: IDRC Networks: An Ethnographic Perspective Author/Source: Anne K. Bernard

Source: Collective Impact Author/Source: Stanford Social Innovation Review

Source: Collective Action Author/Source: Russell Hardin

Source: The Logic of Collective Action Author/Source: Mancur Olson

Source: Participatory Resources Author/Source: Irene Guijt - UNICEF

Source: Better Evaluation Guide on Outcome Mapping Author/Source: Better Evaluation

Source: Better Evaluation Guidance on MSC Author/Source: Better Evaluation

Source: The ‘Most Significant Change’ (MSC) Technique Author/Source: Rick Davies and Jess Dart

Source: Digital Storytelling (DST) Author/Source: Participate

Source: Capturing and Sharing through Digital Storytelling Author/Source: Learning Lab

Source: Poverty Action Lab Presentation on Randomized Evaluations Author/Source: Poverty Action Lab

Source: Youth Networks and the Power of One Author/Source: IRI

Source: Network Standard Indicators Author/Source: IRI

Source: Supporting New or Existing Networks? Author/Source: IRI

Source: How Networks Function – Structure and Engagement Author/Source: IRI