Prospects and Dilemmas of Institutional Networking: Case of the Southeast Asian Network for Agroforestry Education (SEANAFE)

This article highlights SEANAFE's experiences and lessons learned from its 15 years of operation as a regional agroforestry education network. It argues that while institutional networking offers opportunities in strengthening the quality of agroforestry education, there are also institutional mechanisms that constrain the sustainable achievement of the goals and objectives set by the network. To achieve an effective network, therefore, this article suggests the need for more focused nationwide and region-wide activities rather than purely institutional activities; clear and sustained commitments of member-institutions; dynamic relationships between and among country networks and their memberinstitutions; more tangible outputs that would enhance active participation of member-institutions; effective and efficient communication; and more aggressive fund sourcing and collaborations with donors.