ISS signs Knowledge Partnership with Dutch organization Woord and Daad

The main objective of the Knowledge Programme is to systematically assess the relevance, effectiveness, and impacts of the enterprise development strategies by Woord and Daad.

In 2008 the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and Dutch NGO Woord en Daad established a Knowledge Programme (KP) on enterprise development and signed an agreement (MoU) for the period 2009-2010.

At that time Woord en Daad was searching for a future focus of its Enterprise Development programme and ISS had recently completed a study of Enterprise Development initiatives of Dutch NGOs.

• In 2010 a first case was completed with Woord en Daad’s partner organization PAC in Nicaragua, in which a value chain approach was studied. That research will be complemented with two other cases in which different intervention strategies are implemented.

• The second case will be on the partner organization ACFIME, focused on microcredit.

• A third and final case will study the partner organization Eminence in Benin, specialised in Business Development Services.

The three cases will be discussed in a comparative meta-analysis with a focus of extracting lessons and guidelines for the future strategic choices of Woord en Daad.

Why this agreement?

In the understanding of both organizations, collaboration in research is mutually beneficial. It provides ISS with new insights on the practice of Enterprise Development and Woord en Daad can profit from the broad expertise of ISS on the area of Enterprise Development.

The Knowledge Programme will run until 30 December 2013.

ISS student and staff participation

The Knowledge partnership can also involve students who wish to write their Research Papers on any aspect of Entrepreneurship Development and Private Sector Development.

ISS staff involved are Georgina M. Gómez, Peter Knorringa and Bert Helmsing.