Key enabling factors in effective and sustainable research networks

Overview

Findings from a qualitative research study

This report outlines findings from a qualitative research study on health research networks. It identified several advantages in setting up or sustaining networks:

• for the individual participant: capacity building, peer learning, sharing of knowledge, and testing of ideas with others working in similar situations; and
• for the institution: providing a profile, creating a critical mass of organizations seen to be working together.

Challenges include: a lack of institutional and individual commitment; a lack of a common results framework (linking the vision with planned and practical steps); a lack of joint activities among members; a lack of alignment between funding and network cycles; and a lack of donor interest to fund infrastructure.

Enabling factors for effective and sustainable networks include: shared goals among network members; clear governance structures; strong leadership/champions; sustained resources (infrastructure, human and financial); and effective communications support (for communications within and beyond the network).

Network sustainability also has a time dimension linked to factors including resources, relationships and relevance.

By focusing on the enabling factors and challenges, organizations and institutions interested in setting up or supporting networks can ensure the development of effective, sustainable networks.