Hivos and ISS link practice and theory on civil society building in developing countries

Author(s): Julie
Publication date: Wednesday 16 June 2004

Development agency Hivos and international academic centre Institute of Social Studies (ISS) have joined forces to expand and share knowledge on civil society building in developing countries. Today, both organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ratify their partnership. An important component of the partnership is the establishment of a network for knowledge sharing in the context of civil society building.

The essence of the collaboration between Hivos and ISS lies in the exchange between practice and theory of civil society building in developing countries. Hivos has a network spread out over thirty countries, and consisting of over 850 ngos, most of whom are active in the field between citizens and the state, aiming at the promotion of public interests. By stimulating sharing of knowledge between her partners, Hivos bundles experiences, evaluations and knowledge of individual ngos and of Hivos itself, generating a rich source of information.

The ISS is one of the world’s largest academic institutes for development studies and supports, in close collaboration with national and international organisations and the state, developing countries through education, research and projects. With its research-oriented approach the ISS can support Hivos in her practical activities and policy development.

The practice and theory which Hivos and ISS bring together are bundled in a ‘knowledge network’. This is a programme which links civil society organisations in developing countries, Hivos and the ISS, and consists of four main components. These include research, training, an annual seminar and a website. The research programme will allow ISS students and researchers to access and use practical examples from Hivos’s network. ISS can provide training programmes to ngos in developing countries, for example around the course ‘NGOs and Civil Society Building’.

With an annual seminar around current topics in the field of civil society building, both organisations will deepen the discussions around the theme. The first seminar will take place in the first half of 2005 and is entitled ‘Civil Society and Weak States’. The very first programme component to be concretised is the website www.civilsocietybuilding.net, which was launched prior to the signing session for the partnership. The website is a medium to provide ngos with background information, to host a discussion platform, and to bring network members in contact with each other. Members can actively exchange experiences and knowledge, and consult each other.

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For more information about Hivos please contact:

Anneke Oosterhuis, spokesperson, telephone: +31 (0)70 – 376 55 00/ +31 (0)6-20415036

e-mail: a.oosterhuis@hivos.nl/ website: www.hivos.nl

For more information about the ISS please contact:

Femke van der Vliet, External Relations, telephone: +31 (0)70 – 426 04 72

e-mail: vdvliet@iss.nl / website: www.iss.nl

Related links:

http://www.hivos.nl
http://www.iss.nl