Table 4 Respondent perceptions on factors affecting organizational communication, coordination or collaboration at regional level

INTERNAL FACTORS

Representative quotations

Organizational agendas and mandates

“Every organization has its own agenda, very difficult to bring them on the same platform with a same vision.” (Network)

“There are varied mandates, even in UN system, with fragmentation.” (Multilateral)

Organizations’ visibility and branding

“People are always worried about coming together on a common platform…as you want your own visibility – that’s the way you raise resources.” (Foundation)

“Another big drawback to… regional [coordination] is that urge and instinct to have your logo everywhere, that I am the key driver everywhere of this program. The moment that you give that up, you can come together.” (Foundation)

Organizations’ coverage of countries and location of regional hubs

“We are working in [geographically dispersed] locations as a regional community. There is no real hub where we are physically together. Because there has been no physical contact and even electronic or online contact …discussions have not really taken place and it is rather at an ad hoc level that we are coming together.” (UN)

“Different UN agencies recognize different geographic regions. For example, UNICEF has a regional office covering South Asia, while other UN agencies recognize a single Asia and Pacific region. For this reason, we may vary in our capacity to focus on the South Asia region.” (UN)

Organizations’ human and financial resources to support regional cooperation

“The kind of issues that become challenging is when it gets to what needs to be done and what resources are needed, who is there to respond to requests and engage with network conversations.” (Academic)

“It’s somehow a challenge because each organization comes with a source of funding for them with so many strings attached. Flexibility is not there and that is where the donor money restricts you.” (Foundation)

“We need staff to be completely dedicated to doing some of this work [on regional level coordination] … we need to commit for the human resource time.” (INGO)

Existing agreements, history and trust with other organizations

“In some instances where there is a global or regional MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]. This strengthens the opportunities because there is an agency interest in bringing organizations together.” (UN)

What has worked is when we've had that common history [with another organization] and we are using that as a platform to build and strengthen those relationships. What we are missing is a knowledge of what opportunities exist. What is driving our limited coordination [at regional level] at the moment, is reaching out to where there is a history of collaboration globally.” (UN)

“We tried to come together [with other organizations] in India and Bangladesh – takes lots of time to build trust and go together with common objective. There is an effort among partners to come together.” (Multilateral)

“If you have like-minded individuals, then people see the benefits of working together and it can work.” (UN)

Conflicts of interest among network members

“Some of the more regionally focused meetings have been convened by the private sector and the companies we might not necessarily want to work closely with…We have concerns with partnering with some of these organizations.” (NGO)

“Concept of coordination and collaboration is good but need policy for conflict of interest.” (Network)

EXTERNAL FACTORS

Regional geopolitical context

“In South Asia region, [some] countries don’t enjoy good relations like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh…Civil society wants to collaborate with each other. We try to meet in Bangkok or other neutral places, but our countries do not want people to people contact.” (Network)

Regional common narrative and platform for cooperation

“There isn’t a coherent narrative that goes across nutrition to work in … [supporting a unified regional agenda].” (Foundation)

“[We need] to develop a mechanism so that we are better coordinated and create an attitude of openness that we are working in tandem instead of in competition and in isolation.” (NGO)

Donor expectations

“In some instances, donors will also expect or look for organizations working together… that is another push mechanism for bringing organizations together.” (UN)