Collaborating from within: organizational conditions and tools for strong networks

Social profit organisations are under increasing pressure and need to collaborate more across sectors. This requires not only strong networks but also strong collaboration capacity. In this VLAIO TETRA project, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences and Odisee work together with the professional field to develop knowledge and tools that strengthen this capacity.

In short

Collaboration with other organisations is essential for delivering high-quality care and welfare services. Yet building sustainable partnerships within networks remains challenging. This research explores how care and welfare organisations can strengthen their collaboration capacity, enabling them to participate more effectively in intersectoral collaborations.

Need and relevance

Policy developments increasingly encourage organisations to work together across sectors. At the same time, complex care needs, staff shortages and limited resources create additional challenges. Existing knowledge mainly focuses on collaboration between organisations, while internal organisational factors such as vision, structure, processes, culture and competences play a crucial role in successful collaboration. This research identifies these building blocks and translates them into practical knowledge that helps organisations prepare for and strengthen sustainable collaboration.

From approach to impact

We combine literature research with co-creation and practice-based research. Together with care and welfare organisations, we develop and test a practical guide in several pilot settings. The guide supports organisations in evaluating, strengthening and further developing their collaboration policy through practical methods, reflection frameworks, examples and tools. In this way, the research contributes to stronger organisations that can build sustainable networks and create greater societal impact.

Join our learning network!

Do you work in the social profit sector and want to collaborate more effectively with other organizations?

Join our learning network and actively work on your organization's collaborative capacity.

In this program

you will receive concrete tools and methodologies
you will exchange experiences with organizations and experts
you will test insights in practice

We invite the following organisations and professionals to participate:

Social profit organizations

Small and medium-sized organisations active in welfare, socio-cultural work, youth work, family support, care, and related fields.
Seeking to strengthen their internal and sustainable collaborative capacity in order to increase impact.
Contribution: €500 as a member of the learning network.
Additional contribution of €1,000 when participating in a living lab.

Advisory and expert agencies (consultancy)

Professionals providing support to organisations, enterprises, or collaborative partnerships.
Access to project findings, insights, frameworks, and models.
Contribution: €500 as a member of the learning network.
Additional contribution of €1,000 when participating in a living lab.

Sector organizations:

Organisations representing and advocating for social-profit organisations and social enterprises.
Opportunity to gain knowledge of innovative insights, models, and approaches that can strengthen their members’ collaborative capacity, social impact, and operational efficiency.
Contribution: €500 as a member of the learning network.

Knowledge institutions:

Universities and universities of applied sciences with expertise in business models, organisational management, partnerships, social entrepreneurship, impact, and related domains.
Opportunity to contribute to and expand knowledge on strengthening the collaborative capacity of impact-driven organisations.
Contribution: €500 as a member of the learning network.