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Original Article
Absorptive Capacity: NorthSouth Partnerships and Organizational
Learning Within Development Networks
Johanne Bouchera,* and Joanne M. Rochb
aGroupe Conseil NSM, 178 Wellington Street North, Suite 305, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5C5, Canada.
bFaculty of Education, Universite de Sherbrooke, 2500, Boulevard de lUniversite, Sherbrooke,
QC J1K 2R1, Canada.
E-mail: [email protected]
*E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract In order to improve the efficiency of their interventions, Canadian NGOs relying on the
knowledge-based approach to cooperation have privileged the establishment of genuine NorthSouth
partnerships and relationships between their partners within networks as a strategy for building and
sustaining local capacities. Although the networks are associated with development, the mechanisms that
enable partners to learn and build their capacities within networks remain unclear. Based on field research
carried out with Oxfam-Quebec and three of its West African partners, this article examines these
mechanisms. The results demonstrate the importance of Oxfam-Quebecs knowledge-management
practices in the development of its partners absorptive capacity on which their learning within the
network is based. As a result, this article contributes to a better understanding of the processes and
mechanisms leading to the development of absorptive capacity as well as the conditions associated with
the effective use of networks as tools for development.
Afin dameliorer lefficacite de leurs interventions, les ONG canadiennes (sappuyant sur lapproche de la
cooperation basee sur le savoir) ont favorise letablissement des veritables partenariats Nord-Sud et la
mise en relation de leurs partenaires au sein des reseaux comme strategie de renforcement et de maintien
des capacites locales. Bien que les reseaux soient associes au developpement, les mecanismes qui permettent
aux partenaires dapprendre et de construire leurs capacites au sein de ceux-ci demeurent peu
connus. Base sur une recherche sur le terrain effectuee aupre`s dOxfam-Quebec et de trois de ses partenaires
ouest-africains, cet article examine ces mecanismes. Les resultats demontrent limportance des
pratiques de gestion des connaissances dOxfam-Quebec dans le developpement de la capacite dabsorption
de ses partenaires, laquelle est a` la base de leur apprentissage au sein du reseau. Cet article
contribue ainsi a` une meilleure comprehension des processus et mecanismes qui me`nent au developpement
de la capacite dabsorption ainsi qua` celle des conditions liees a` lutilisation efficace des reseaux
comme outils de developpement.
The European Journal of Development Research (2017) 29, 404422. doi:10.1057/s41287-016-0005-z;