Working conference for network practitioners
Do you feel the networking drive?
Networks are not conventional organisations. Relations in networks are (more) horizontal, which means that competences for working in networks are different. Networks require voluntary energy and commitment. But under what conditions? What roles are essential to make a network thrive? How to keep focus and avoid bureaucracy?
Initiators and coordinators of networks try to best-guess what the network needs, but often participation in the network is not as active as hoped for. Why is this? How to keep connected?
You probably recognise these questions, because these and similar issues are mentioned recurrently. In literature many success factors for facilitating networks can be found, but not so many practical guidelines to put these in practice. We feel that there is need for continuous exchange of practical experiences. Let’s hear from each other’s experiences and get inspired with new ideas!
We invite you as practitioner to help build our collective knowledge on facilitation of networks in development cooperation. During the exchange we will address burning issues from a number of angles: systems approach (Heleen Reedijk from MDF), connectivity (Gerd Junne from the Network University), management and facilitation (Ger Roebeling from MDF), and network dynamics (Koen Faber from PSO).
Working conference
In the meeting two interesting cases will be presented and there will be ample opportunity for discussion about burning issues. PSO will also share the new publication of the action research on Networks that has been carried out with five international networks.
Cases
1) Progreso Network will present a number of activities that they employed to improve feedback and commitment from the users of the network. Progreso connects coffee producers organisations in Latin America and Africa.
2) Woord en Daad has initiated four regional alliances with their partner organisations. They will share their experiences of co-designing the alliances with partners, for which staff of both partners and W&D have been trained by MDF in the Free Actor Network approach.
Practical information
Location: De Witte Vosch, Oudegracht 46 in Utrecht
Date: Thursday 1st of December 2011 from 11:00 till 17:00 hours .
Cost: € 25,- per person
Registration: mail to: aanmelding@pso.nl, indicating: ‘working conference for network practitioners’
More info: Koen Faber 070-3384945 (faber@pso.nl) or Ger Roebeling 0318-650060 (GR@mdf.nl)
For more information about the working conference and the programme of the event visit the website of PSO.
Network approaches and Alliance management:
Expert meeting & event
Can networks and alliances be managed?
MDF and PSO invite you as network practitioner to this event on networking approaches
Utrecht, Hoog Brabant, 13 April 2011, 13:30 – 17:00
Contribution: € 25,-
What is it about
Networks, alliances, coalitions, multi stakeholder partnerships, federations, platforms, value chains, etc., etc…: nobody escapes from the reality that the dynamics that matter are no longer confined to organisations or projects. Yet, most of the common methodologies for management, funding and M&E, have been developed for hierarchies. How can we deal with the new reality? How can you manage networks?
We challenge you as network practitioners to explore ways to increase the capacity of the network to perform its role and to deliver desirable results. What are the issues to solve for managing networks properly? Is it possible anyway?
The leading questions
- What kind of management is required in networks?
- And how does this relate to common tools for project management, tools for monitoring and evaluation, and requirements for getting funding for projects?
Based on two concrete case experiences, we jointly will analyse them against the network approach we use in practice and research. With you we hope to discuss your experiences in networking, and any other network approaches you use.
Read more and register on this webpage
How MDF walks the talk
MDF celebrated its 25th anniversary on July 2nd 2010. We seized this opportunity to exchange ideas about Rhineland entrepreneurship with our partners. Rhineland entrepreneurship focuses, among other things, also on long term results. It puts the professional at the centre of its activities and it vouches for innovation, for community involvement, and for respect for the environment. Trust is the underlying condition for performance! And it continues to drive the way we do business.
Day facilitator: Niek Bakker
Key speakers: Jaap Peters, author of the book ‘Intensieve Menshouderij’; Mike Jansen, Director of Fair Trade Original; Dirk Kam, entrepreneur, and Peter Knorringa, researcher at the Institute for Social Studies.
Following an internal celebration during the morning, guests of MDF were invited for lunch. After a warm welcome from the Directors of MDF, Hans Rijneveld and Herman Snelder, it was time for presentations and lively debates.
Jaap Peters kicked off with an opening movie and presentation about the Rhineland entrepreneurial model. He explained that Rhineland entrepreneurship is rooted in the countries through which the Rhine river flows. According to Peters, represents the Anglo-Saxon an artificial reality that is made up by people. In this context he referred to the shadows in Plato’s Cave. A Rhineland society is living the reality itself. Therefore Peters underlined that the two can never be mixed. As he illustrated: “Can you imagine a vegetarian restaurant serving meat?”
Next on stage was Mike Jansen, Director of Fair Trade Original. He expounded how his company embeds the Rhineland principles throughout the company and why it has been so successful.
Dirk Kam followed Mike Jansen with an openhearted anecdote about his entrepreneurial struggles in the Netherlands and in Africa. Kam emphasised that to him: “Rhineland entrepreneurship is not an ideology, religion, or dogma, but it is a set of axioms; open for discussion and a source of inspiration”.
Peter Knorringa drew attention to the Chinese model. According to Knorringa this has proven itself to be a very successful model in central Asia and India. In response, an MDF consultant pointed out the African model. Clearly enough experiences and ideas were present for a lively debate!
Director of MDF, Herman Snelder, expounded how MDF incorporates Rhineland entrepreneurship in its organisation, with the five focal points being:
• We aspire to strengthen organisations and networks for a more equitable world
• We care that our services are reflecting Rhineland principles and practices
• We value sustainable linkages with clients and con-colleagues
• We pursue spreading our wings to new and local markets
• We try to create a pleasant organisation in which staff are the main drivers of quality
Jaap Peters concluded the festivity by reading a passage from the book ‘Bij welke reorganisatie werk jij?’ (Which reorganisation do you work for?). With this he captured that ‘trust’ is not self-evident, but something that needs to be created and nurtured by each individual within the organisation.
Would you like to know more about how MDF is incorporating Rhineland entrepreneurship within its organisation or are you interested in working together with us? We welcome your feedback. Please contact us by sending an e-mail to mdf@mdf.nl
With kind regards,
Hans Rijneveld and Herman Snelder
Rhineland entrepreneurship in international collaboration
Rhineland entrepreneurship is under renewed attention since the outbreak of the current financial economic crisis. A crisis that is the outcome of the extreme excesses in which the Anglo American way of thinking and acting is concealed. The spearhead of this approach has been to make money in the shortest possible time and manage on (financial) indicators mainly.
The Anglo-American wind has already been blowing accros Europe for almost three decades. It took off in the Netherlands during the 80s last century and it repressed the Rhineland thinking that previously had been characteristic for the European way of working in society and organisations.
Today, the Anglo American approach also reveals itself in international development collaboration. It appears to be that the aim is progressively more to achieve short-term results, preferably all measurable. Many substantive experts have given way to “control” professionals who put accountancy first. It seems that these days the focal point increasingly is to follow the procedures and the financial aspects of programmes, rather than to reach the (less) measurable successes.
Rhineland entrepreneurship focuses, among other things, also on long term results. It puts the professional at the centre of its activities and it vouches for innovation, for community involvement, and for respect for the environment. Trust is the underlying condition for performance!
The reimbursed devotion to the Rhineland model is currently unfolding itself in Dutch society, politics, health and education sector, companies and institutions alike. An illustration of this is the rising awareness that in addition to the role of the government and the civil society to advance development, there is also a vital and enduring role for businesses.
News from MDF
Read our annual report 2009 on this page
Read our Annual Report 2008 on this page
About our representation in Latin America: read more
Managing for Development Results: a new trend ...
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