‘Networks’ and ‘networking’ are widely used (and often under-defined) concepts. This rapid desk-review takes a more focused look at networks - specifically those that support policy and practice development, from the point of view of charitable organisations that may want to foster them as a way of achieving social change.

Accordingly, the first part of the paper investigates some basic questions such as what a network is and when it’s best to develop and foster one in order to achieve a goal (as opposed to using other means). The second part discusses learning from charitable foundations’ experience of working with policy and practice networks.