Synergy in action: a new Nuffic publication

Quite recently Nuffic published a book on the coordination of cooperation programmes in higher education and research entitled ‘Synergy in action’.  It focuses on programmes which aim to strengthen higher education and research capacity in developing countries. On behalf of the Netherlands Government Nuffic administers two of such programmes: the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) and the Netherlands Initiative for Capacity development in Higher Education (NICHE). 

Many northern governments fund similar programmes and they have been doing so for decades. They were initiated when many former colonies gained independence shortly after the Second World War. The aim of the programmes was to build the necessary high-level cadre of trained professionals for the new countries, either by providing individuals scholarships for studies in northern countries or by building up institutions for higher education and research in the developing countries through collaborative projects with institutions in donor countries.

Aid effectiveness

The main question the book addresses is to what extent it is possible to use these various capacity building programmes in a complementary way. At least one would hope that the programmes do not compete with one another or duplicate efforts. At best, that the opportunities which the individual programmes offer may lead to synergetic effects. This would be in line with the agreement which donors and developing countries reached in 2005 when they signed the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. The declaration stipulates, among other things, that national governments in developing countries clearly define their demands and coordinate donor support, that donor countries align behind these objectives and use local systems, that they coordinate efforts, simplify procedures and share information to avoid duplication.

The contributions in the book look at the possibilities for coordination of the programmes from three perspectives: a) the policy frameworks that underlie the capacity building programmes, b) the target population of these programmes (i.e. the organisations and institutions in developing countries), and c) institutions in the North that (want to) collaborate with partner organisations in developing countries.

The articles in the book include an analysis of policy frameworks of donor programmes (a general overview and the situation in Germany), practical experiences in coordination of donor programmes at two universities in developing countries (Makerere University in Uganda and Can Tho University in Vietnam), coordination at country level (by a team of the Free University Amsterdam), the Northern academic perspective (Maastricht University) and the potential to develop long term partnerships (Ghent University).

Two types of coordination

The articles discuss two types of coordination: top-down and bottom-up. In top-down coordination policies and structures are set up that are designed to promote the coordination of programmes and activities. Bottom-up coordination, on the other hand, is about creating synergy and about the ‘bricolage’ of opportunities. Effects grow either organically as opportunities arise, or on the basis of clear ambitions or ‘dreams’.

The  authors make clear that a good balance must be found between top-down and bottom-up coordination. Top-down coordination is required to guarantee macro-level synergy, and bottom-up coordination is required to promote innovation and sustainability.

Distinct responsibilities

They also illustrate that effective coordination requires concerted efforts at various levels of responsibility, those of donors, local authorities and implementing organisations. Donor agencies should strive for policy coherence and create opportunities, while the implementers should seize the available opportunities.

The authorities and implementing partners in developing countries should take the initiative to coordinate and harmonise the support modalities that are offered or accessible to them to avoid duplicating interventions and competition between donors, and to align support with the organisation’s strategic objectives. This can be organised in different ways: some organisations integrate it as a component of a strategic development plan while others adopt it as a management principle.

The institutes in the North collaborating with partners in the South can play a role in promoting this process by endeavouring to seek matching opportunities among the various support programmes that are on offer. The realisation that synergy and the coordination of funds will be the key to successful partnerships with institutes in the South deserves full attention, not only with the funding agencies, but also within the universities in the North.

Obtain a copy

The full title of the book is:

Ad Boeren (ed.). (2013). Synergy in action. Coordination of cooperation programmes in higher education and research. The Hague: Nuffic.

A free hard copy can be ordered by using this order form.

A digital version can be downloaded from Nuffic’s publication page.