Bonding & Bridging in Capacity Development Networks Prof. Dr. Wim van Vierssen, CEO, KWR Watercycle Research Institute

2 Watercycle Research Institute The Challenge of Capacity Development COMBINING: different types of knowledge (tacit/explicit, scientific/practical) a diversity of actors (water disciplines, societal sectors, geographical levels) a diversity of formal and informal norms and rules mutual interdependencies and exchange of resources (budget, status, leadership)

3 Watercycle Research Institute Complex Capacity Development Networks

4 Watercycle Research Institute UN-Water: Enabling Capacity Development Interfaces bonding among actors through organizing interactions across policy and practice, across water disciplines and across geographical levels bridging (strongly) institutionalized boundaries between policy and practice, water disciplines and geographical levels through strategic decisions

5 Watercycle Research Institute Example: boundaries between water professionals in the Netherlands ALTERS water domains drinking waterseweragewastewaterwater managementunrelated to water sample size EGO drinking water 71%17%27%25%11%364 sewerage 20%62%49%41%4%318 wastewater 22%27%68%27%10%523 water management 17%25%26%70%11%565 unrelated to water 24%15%12%36%48%33 sample size Source: Wen et al., in prep.

6 Watercycle Research Institute Example: boundaries between water professionals in the Netherlands ALTERS societal sectors businessgovernmentscienceNGOothers sample size EGO business 37%46%8%6%2%100% government 35%49%9%4%2%100% science 23%34%24%13%7%100% NGO 35%20%15%31%0%100% others 33%25%14%3%24%100% sample size Source: Wen et al., in prep.

7 Watercycle Research Institute Example: boundaries between water professionals in the Netherlands

8 Watercycle Research Institute Network Science meets Capacity Development Practice Expertise in Scientific Research on Water-related Knowledge Networks Expertise in Water related Capacity Development Practices +

9 Watercycle Research Institute How to deal with complexity? 1. Mapping the emerging network Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture project

10 Watercycle Research Institute How to deal with complexity? 2. Identifying capacity needs and gaps Knowledge Actors Relations Network Affiliation Motivation Attitude Trust Duration Intensity Proximity Diversity Bonding Bridging

11 Watercycle Research Institute How to deal with complexity? 3. Recommendations for a productive and robust network ‘Right’ balance between: BONDING (proximity between actors and groups, which enhances communication and interaction) BRIDGING (diversity among actors and groups, which prevents redundancy and enhances integration and coproduction)

12 Watercycle Research Institute Thank you for your attention