PLAYING THE ROLE OF A ‘BOUNDARY ORGANISATION’: GETTING SMARTER WITH NETWORKING

1. PLAYING THE ROLE OF A ‘BOUNDARY ORGANISATION’: GETTING SMARTER WITH NETWORKING Tim Quinlan HEARD (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division) 19th May 2009

2. INTRODUCTION: What are ‘boundary’ organisations? A role when an organisation: crosses boundaries between science and politics crosses disciplinary boundaries With purpose to encourage utilisation of research Background: Climate researchers: link ‘pure’ climate studies with weather forecasting USA Agriculture in 40s-60s? – link agric. Rsch. with extension work; establish university/govt/farmer links

3. HEARD as a ‘boundary organisation’ Do we play that role? –yes, as does any applied research agency HEARD agenda: Influence policy Improve health and wellbeing of people in and beyond Africa Regional orientation ‘There are really two questions that HEARD poses for itself: how to encourage interventions that are based on sound research and, conversely, how to do research that serves the design of effective strategies and policies?’ (HEARD 2004)

4. Research Systems Support Knowledge Advancement & Education

5. PRACTICE & CONSEQUENCES Collaborative research; Partnerships; ‘work with like minded organisations’ Use of methodology of integrated research (link the different logics research, planning and management) (More recently): subscribe to ‘learning organisation’ ethos . Much of the doing is via networking and networks (creating, building relationships with organisations and individuals, directly & indirectly) Cross boundaries between science and politics = subject to political vagaries of policy making (and of science) Cross disciplinary boundaries = host of Qs. for organisation of rsch. and definitions of evidence

6. THE ROLE AS A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF HEARD Theoretical and practical outcomes as result of HEARD and RENEWAL/IFPRI collaboration Formal partnerships (e.g. JFA –donor funding arrangement; KZN dept. of Social Development; UNAIDS) Building networks of rschrs and NG0s involved with: - Adolescent welfare in SA - Disability and HIV in Africa - Regional partnership with rsch organisations to engage with SADC - DFID ‘ABBA’ project collective

7. ILLUSTRATING THE PROCESS:THE HEARD/RENEWAL LINK Origin : Southern African Vulnerability Initiative (SAVI) (Rrschr network; multi-disciplinary; interested in multiple stressors on pop. welfare in the region Purpose: Develop model of analysing multiple stressors Investigate utility of ‘vulnerability’ as scientific and developmentconcept IFPRI’s Renewal prog. funded some projects of individuals in the network

8. IFPRI’s RENEWAL PROGRAMME Objectives: To reduce critical gaps in understanding of: - how rural livelihoods, food and nutrition insecurity contribute to further spread of HIV/AIDS; - the impact of AIDS on rural livelihoods, food and nutrition security; - how food and nutrition-relevant policies and programs can contribute to HIV prevention and mitigation of AIDS; To enable relevant institutions to forge partnerships and to act on realistic priorities for responding to HIV/AIDS; To facilitate and complement the development of regional networks, to scale up responses.

9. RENEWAL’S STRUCTURE AND MEANS National Advisory Panels (senior govt officials) to review projects and inform rsch plans National co-ordinators to link scientists and govt depts/officials and identify ‘champions’ in govt (soc dev, agric, health) Set up meetings on different topics to bring scientists and govt officials together

10. HEARD/RENEWAL AGENDA Share interest in food security in context of HIV and influencing govt. HEARD became host for Renewal’s SA national co-ordinator and secretariat for organising meetings Aim to draw together ‘social cluster’ depts (Edu; Soc Dev; Health) and draw in SA Dept. of Agriculture Organise meetings Seek guidance on rsch. ideas from officials Seek to link rsch. evidence and rschrs. with relevant govt officials programme and policy plans

11. CHALLENGES & SUCCESSES Challenges Few champions (Soc Dev not work) Internal Govt politics (Agric) Slow process Successes PM office level backing in Malawi for meetings (2007) Invite to DOH officials’ mini-conference on HIV and nutrition (2008) Govt interest in training of Vulnerability Assessment Committees (VACs) (2008) Ongoing interest from Agric. Dept officials (despite internal politics) New rsch idea from Agric official (2008) RENEWAL contribute to HEARD’s engagement with SADC (2008)

12. Review ‘Engagement’ = Slow process Gradual development of relationship with govt depts. Networking was achieving trust, interest in govt circles; relationships Question: How do we make better use of networks

13. Making better use of networks Devise project to review internal and external networks a) Mapping exercise - Q.s to staff on internal and external networks - For each staff: who is in it, what is nature of the connection, what does it actually do, what does it achieve/ has achieved? b) Quantitative Network analysis (gaps, concentrations/density) c) Qualitative analysis of ‘hidden’ form, content, achievements of networks informed by ‘learning organisation’ principles - acknowledge importance of qualitative aspects of relationships (e.g.daily interactions; aspirations voiced in discussions between staff of different orgs. - analytical focus on qualities of individual and collective networks

14. Multiple purpose of Network review Mapping - Visual display of how people work and to what effect to enable reflection and improve internal team working (rschrs. with rschrs & rschrs. with admin) Quantitative and qualitative network analysis: Include collaborators on projects in the process to improve collaborative ventures (counter ‘SA Big Brother’ prejudices) Enable reflection to distinguish and connect ‘Research’; ‘Systems Support’; ‘Education/CB’ activities Appreciate the means, effects and value of crossing boundaries between science and politics Overall: - Understand and so, use ‘networks’ to better effect

15. Research Systems Support Knowledge Advancement & Education Partnerships