O400 | Dev Policy Rev. 2018;36:O400–O413. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/dpr Received: October 2014 | Accepted: October 2016 DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12292 ARTICLE The importance of networking in development co-operation: A social network analysis-based evaluation of an international development programme Fabio Nascimbeni © The Author 2017. Development Policy Review © 2017 Overseas Development Institute Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR) and Universidade de São Paulo Correspondence Fabio Nascimbeni Email: fabio.nascimbeni@unir.net Abstract This article aims to demonstrate that networking activities, if properly planned, applied and monitored, can help in- crease the long-term impact of development co-operation actions. We demonstrate the added value of networking within development actions, focusing on dynamics of trust and reciprocity and on the rationales beyond different col- laboration patterns, demonstrating the impact of network- ing on program effectiveness, intercultural learning and sustainability. Using social network analysis coupled with participant observation, it was possible to trace the devel- opment of a large multi-stakeholder development pro- gramme and to understand a number of dynamics not considered by the donor when evaluating the action, thereby reaching a better understanding of the challenges and success of the programme. KEYWORDS development co-operation, multi-stakeholder networking, programme evaluation, social network analysis 1 | INTRODUCTION The underlying thesis of this article is that some critical aspects of development co-operation—such as ineffectiveness, irrelevance to local communities’ needs, and poor sustainability of development projects—can be improved by strengthening the networking component of development policies and