Ten Dimensions of Network Strengthening: Lessons from Health Rights Advocates in Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines

<p dir="ltr">Maintaining and strengthening networks of volunteers is central to the health rights advocacy work of four civil society organizations (CSOs) in Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines who have worked through networks to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent healthcare services for marginalized communities. Their experience shows that networks of volunteers that represent marginalized populations <i>and</i> have the skills to engage with public authorities at different levels of government can confront the political and policy issues necessary to improve RMNCAH care. This Accountability Note captures the reflections of these CSOs on ten dimensions of network strengthening that they consider critical to their efforts to strengthen volunteer networks.</p><p dir="ltr">1. <b>Strengthening core organizations that convene and support the network</b>. Hiring specialized staff and working on internal strategy and operations processes can strengthen volunteer networks.</p><p dir="ltr">2. <b>Recruiting and (re)engaging volunteers</b>. Enlisting new volunteers or motivating former volunteers to get involved again is essential to maintaining and expanding a volunteer network; volunteers become and stay involved only if they want to be there.</p><p dir="ltr">3. <b>Building capacity and activating volunteers</b>. Training volunteers so that they have the knowledge and skills needed to be effective and enabling them to do work that is meaningful to them is essential to volunteer networks.</p><p dir="ltr">4. <b>Developing network cohesion and trust</b>. Trusting relationships between network members and supporting organizations are built in many ways, helping both to keep people involved and supporting them to overcome challenges.</p><p dir="ltr">5. <b>Strengthening relationships with community members</b>. Outreach in communities and delivering information or services that are valued by community members motivates volunteers, increases demand for the network’s services, and builds trust. This in turn is a sign that the network has operated ethically in the communities.</p><p dir="ltr">6. <b>Increasing network visibility and public recognition</b>. Communications, events, and alliances can help the public learn what the network does; the ability to attract positive attention is also a sign that the network has reached a certain level of formalization.</p><p dir="ltr">7. <b>Building alliances with counterpart organizations</b>. Strategic alliances with other organizations or organized social bases can build legitimacy, enable volunteer recruitment, and strengthen advocacy work.</p><p dir="ltr">8. <b>Developing relationships with government</b>. Building relationships with public officials is a sign that a network is sophisticated and organized in its advocacy. Strong working relationships with collaborative government officials can help a network meet its goals, and can also help manage less sympathetic officials.</p><p dir="ltr">9. <b>Broadening the frame of problems and solutions</b>. If volunteers can build knowledge and skills in new issue areas, they become stronger individually and collectively.</p><p dir="ltr">10. <b>Sustaining networks over time</b>. There are three aspects of sustainability: where the network resources come from, where the human capacity is built, and how the network develops. Balancing the complex dynamics of each of these aspects is key to strengthening networks that are sustainable over time.</p><p><br></p>