Learning through networking and information exchange: how NGOs can increase their impact

How can international NGOs (INGOs) use networking, learning and information systems to increase their development impact? What is the state of their systems for accessing and processing information? How could they become more successful in sharing and learning information?

In research by the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Institute for Development Policy and Management it is argued that learning from the field is essential to enable INGOs to influence wider policy-making and improve local accountability. As their focus changes from operational work to international advocacy, INGOs must strengthen institutional learning structures and learning skills.

Many INGOs now focus on facilitating sustainable change through international advocacy, using their capacity to link global institutions and macro-level policy with local situations and micro-level experience. Although less directly involved at grassroots level, such INGOs need to maintain strong institutional links with local partners. Yet despite their broad links and the potential of information and communication technology-based networking, INGOs tend to have small-scale successes rather than achieve maximum impact in influencing global development policy. Learning from the field is crucial for improving both international advocacy and local accountability, and the processes by which INGOs learn are key. Central to these processes are activities concerned with information access and exchange. Madon and Sahay recently studied the ‘information’ strategy adopted by a small NGO in Bangalore, South India.

INGOs have adopted various networking and information strategies to improve learning from the field, including strengthening linkages and information flows with partner organisations, governments and development agencies. INGOs are also making more systematic use of information systems in order to improve the flow of ideas, experiences and information among INGO headquarters, national offices and those at the grassroots level.

For learning systems to become institutionalised, INGOs need appropriate institutional structures, information exchange processes and skills in generalising from the field. With an emphasis on decentralised structures, non-hierarchical communication and openness to learning, INGOs have the potential to remain flexible in responding to changing circumstances and to devise solutions to complex development challenges.

Research findings include:

• Most INGOs’ systems for accessing, storing, transferring and disseminating information are underdeveloped and many suffer from information overload, receiving huge amounts of information, which they are unable to process.
• Organisational learning often focuses on internal processes, neglecting the essential contribution of external information from interaction with other organisations, for example, partners, development agencies and academics.
• The balance between participatory, field-based learning and learning that feeds into wider policy and advocacy-related work is essential, but difficult to maintain.
• The channelling of information from the field for headquarters’ consumption is being replaced by the acceptance of the use of locally-generated information and communication channels for learning.
• Field experiences need to be generalised to have influence in wider policy circles.

Policy implications include:

• The crucial aspect of information sharing and learning is not the information itself but the building of learning capacities.
• Direct, experiential learning amongst field workers remains the foundation for other forms of learning linked to good practice, policy and advocacy work.
• Encouraging action, reflection and learning from experience among field staff and project partners must take top priority.
• Learning needs to be supported by decentralised, flexible institutional structures that are open to experimenting with indigenous forms of information and communication channels.
• More emphasis should be placed on the documentation and dissemination of indigenous, local experience.

Source(s):
‘An information-based model of NGO-mediation for the empowerment of slum dwellers in Bangalore’, in The Information Society, 18, 1, by S. Madon and S. Sahay (2002) Full document.
‘International NGOs: Networking, Information Flows and Learning’, Development Informatics Working Paper Series No. 8, Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, by Shirin Madon, 2000 Full document.

Funded by: Nuffield Social Science Small Grant Scheme

id21 Research Highlight: 17 January 2003

Further Information:
Shirin Madon
Department of Information Systems
London School of Economics & Political Science
Houghton Street
London WC2A 2AE, UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7955 7627
Contact the contributor: s.madon@lse.ac.uk

London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

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'Share and share alike: evaluating networks'

'Networking for success and survival in Ghana. Does size matter?'

'Changing attitudes: new pathways for civil society in urban development'

'Missing the boat? International NGOs, advocacy and information flows'