Maximizing project impact: the use of social network analysis to select project partners

Ruvicyn S. Bayot, Sophie Alvarez, Michael Victor, and Boru DouthwaiteInternational Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, PhilippinesCentro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, A.A. 6713, Cali, ColombiaChallenge Program on Water and Food, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri LankaThe WorldFish Center, P.O. Box 500, GPO 10670, Penang, Malaysia

The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) Phase II is a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary research-for-development program that brings together partners from both fields of research and development. The aim is to increase the resilience of social and ecological ecosystems through better water management for food production. This partnership is designed to:

address specific basin development challenges by supporting research collaboration among partners;

ensure research results are used by different groups by creating multistakeholder platforms that ensure adequate representation of stakeholders; and

build the capacity of local partners and young professionals.

This collaborative partnership is based on the premise that it will ensure ownership and use of the generated outputs since stakeholders are involved from the very beginning of the project.

The Ganges Basin Development Program Team: how this team was formed

The CPWF used social network analysis to strategically select partners within a basin development program. The examples shown are the maps used for selecting the project partners and lead institutions for the Ganges Basin Development Program.

Network mappingThe program used network mapping as a diagnostic tool to help identify key institutional partners. The two key elements of CPWF’s network map are the partners (shown as network nodes) and the relationships between them (shown as network ties). The partner’s position in a network determines its influence and its access to information and resources (Clark, 2006). The more central and the greater involvement partners have in research, the more direct is their access to information and resources. 

Partners are classified and grouped according to type of institution (Box 1) and location. These attributes are set in the map using different node colors and shapes.

Box 1

CGIAR: Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research

NARES: National Agricultural Research and Extension System

RO: Research organization

(e.g., universities)

GO: Government organization

NGO: Nongovernment Organization

Selecting the partners and lead institutions 1

List of institutions from the survey of related initiatives

2

Network map of partners from CPWF Phase 1

3

Network map of institutions from related initiatives

The network map was created using NetDraw, an open source software tool used to visualize social networkshttp://www.analytictech.com/netdraw.htm

Data collection

Database of CPWF partners in Phase 1

Survey of related initiatives(1)

Network map of CPWF Phase 1 partners (2)

Network map of related initiatives (3)

Count the degrees of involvement

Count the number of times the institution led an initiative

Rank institutions

Identify lead partners based on criteria set (4)

Select other partners (5)

Criteria1. Track record of project leadership2. Track record of achievement in initiatives similar to the Ganges

Basin Development Program3. Ability to work in partnerships4. Ability to coordinate projects in more than one riparian country5. Appropriate governance and financial management mechanisms6. Relevant research expertise

4Partnering expectations•At least one in-basin organization•At least one out-of-basin organization•At least one organization to scale out and scale up research outputs

5

Lessons learnedEnsure that stakeholders are consulted in identifying related initiatives.

Develop a comprehensive database of organizations prior to the development of the network map to capture the ‘richness’ of the network.

Ensure that the project team has partners from within the basin, which are influential and know the local situation.

The team should involve enabling institutions that will be responsible for the scaling out and scaling up of research results.

ReferencesClark, L. 2006. Network mapping as a diagnostic tool. Centro Internacional

de Agricultura Tropical, Cali, Colombia.CPWF. 2009. 2008 Annual Report.: A year of transformation and

innovation. Colombo, Sri Lanka.CPWF. 2009. Medium-term Plan 2009-2012. Colombo, Sri Lanka.Douthwaite, B. 2010. Selecting lead organizations for the Ganges BDC

Projects. CPWF Management Document. Unpublished.