Networking is the act of creating relationships by sharing information, resources. It is essential that those organisations (or individuals) involved in a network, share a common goal with regards to both outcome and process.

Essentially, a network is about groups of individuals and organisations and their relationships with each other. It relies on their involvement and interest to survive.

A network can be formal or informal depending on the nature of the relationship between the organisations within it.

A short-term project or campaign is likely to have strong links, but only last a short time. An alliance is more formal in nature and is likely to have a long-term approach to objectives, while a coalition is a permanent structure.

A network can be rated according to the level of interdependence of the members (from a shared learning environment with low interdependence, to a short-term lobbying process with a specific aim of getting a certain policy changed, with a high degree of interdependence)1. But, all networks have to value their members and their contribution, if they are to succeed.

Source: http://www.wikipedia.org

To participate in a network is to come together as individual organisations for a common purpose - bringing resources together in order to reach, jointly, shared goals. It is important to stay solutions and success-oriented, even with less tangible goals such as ‘shared learning’. This keeps the network on track and members committed to each other.

• ‘Power in numbers’ means increased impact
• Joint campaign planning strengthens the campaign message and support for it
• Ambitious projects or campaigns require input from many stakeholders, if they are to succeed
• Lobbying in a democratic society is effective when the campaign is broad-based (i.e. involves many different types of organisations, with different perspectives on the same issue)
• Sharing the campaign beyond one organisation takes it to a larger audience
• Joint campaigns have more skills and resources to draw from
• Expertise and information is in abundance in a shared campaign process
• The sense of community and mutual responsibility keeps the campaign from flagging
• Recognition of effort and successes is best when it comes from peers
• Inspiration!

Successful networking, even informal networking, relies on clear guidelines and shared understanding between participant organisations. How you start determines how you continue together:

• Be familiar with the current concerns of the organisation you approach. Do they share you specific objective?
• Identify the right person to contact within the organisation
• Provide strong information about the the task or campaign that you are setting up a network for
• Explain why it is important for them to take action
• Find out what they can do and how they may be able to help
• Ask to be added to their email or newsletter lists regarding the issue
• Communicate regularly2

It is easy to underestimate how much time and energy setting up and maintaining a network will take up. Even an informal network, or a network in support of a short-term project, requires a core team that will drive the information and resource sharing. Members of the network need to be clear about its objectives, timeline and method. Understanding together how to communicate, and how often, helps guide the process.

The most important thing to remember when setting up a network is ‘communication and more communication’. It is recommended the concrete activities are undertaken together at the beginning, to give a sense of shared purpose. Networks rely on good management, trust, transparency, and clear incentives for participation: with network managers asking what the members of the network get from being a part of it. In a human rights campaign situation, it is important that the network members input, and their loyalty, is recognised as paramount to the campaign’s success. Internal relationships should be cared for attentively, and this aspect should not be neglected in the face of the sometimes enormity of the shared campaign goal, but rather recognised as crucial to success and written into guidelines and network monitoring and evaluation procedures.

Sources:

1. Supporting Networks, AED
2. Amnesty International, Campaigning Manual