A case study for the project ‘Capacity, Change and Performance’
F.E. Campos and V. Hauck, ECDPM Discussion Paper 57L, 2005. This case looks at a network of university institutes, research centres and one federal office dealing with human resources questions in the health sector of Brazil. The study explores how informal networking developed into a formal network delivering outputs and outcomes and potentially impacting the well-being of society. The network is seen as a unique and successful case of state–non-state interaction in health, and has raised interest among regional and international observers from the health sector, from network specialists and from development agencies dealing with institutional development. The Brazilian experience provides insights into what capabilities are needed to make networking function and how capacity created in the context of networks leads to performance. A mix of technical, internal, external and so-called ‘soft’, or generative capabilities emerged, which accounts for the unfolding and sustenance of the network. This case shows that motivation and group learning play important roles. Though outside actors are welcome to assist, further development of the Brazilian Observatório will continue to rely on endogenous processes.