Bangladesh: understanding humanitarian networks

This case study is part of an Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) and Asia Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) research project exploring national level humanitarian networks in Asia. The objective of this research is to improve the knowledge base on networks in the humanitarian system and, in particular, to increase our understanding of networking by national NGOs working on disaster and crisis response in Asia.

An important motivation for this work is to understand the current nature of networking at a national level, to capture instances of success, and to attempt to draw conclusions about how these successes could be replicated elsewhere. The particular research questions the project addresses are as follows:

1. In what ways are organisations currently engage in networking at a national level?
2. What form do these networks take and what functions are networks perceived as fulfilling – what functions should they be fulfilling?
3. How does the involvement of national and international organisations in national level networks and coordination mechanisms differ?
4. How do networks on disaster and crisis response relate to networks on other relevant issues, such as DRR and development agendas?
5. How are national networks linked to other networks at regional and international levels?
6. What leads to the emergence of networked forms of action?
7. What are the key challenges and opportunities for national level humanitarian networks?