Network evaluation in Action: Insights from the Public Sector Infrastructure Developers Program

Complex infrastructure challenges increasingly cut across organizational and sectoral boundaries. The Public Sector Network of Infrastructure Developers was established in Israel to address this reality by bringing together senior professionals from central government, local authorities, and infrastructure companies. The program aimed to strengthen professional knowledge, foster a shared language across the infrastructure field, and build a network that could support coordination, collaboration, and a system-level thinking in infrastructure development.

The first cohort included participants from a wide range of public and semi-public bodies and was implemented as a structured journey combining lectures, peer learning, site visits, group work, and informal interaction. Alongside technical content, the program placed strong emphasis on relationship building and exposure to the perspectives, constraints, and roles of other actors operating in the infrastructure ecosystem.

The Evaluation Approach: A Network-Sensitive Lens

The evaluation combined multiple approaches, including a theory-based framework, a longitudinal design, and network evaluation. This made it possible to assess individual outcomes while also generating insights into how the program contributed over time to the emergence of a functioning professional network. Drawing on principles of network evaluation, the evaluation treated relationships, trust, and collaboration as key outcomes rather than secondary effects.

The evaluation used a mixed-methods data collection. Quantitative entry and exit surveys were administered to all participants, capturing changes in knowledge, capabilities, perceptions, and connections over time. These were complemented by 18 in-depth interviews with participants conducted at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the program, as well as interviews with program staff. This design made it possible to examine how relationships evolved, how participants used the network in practice, and how network engagement related to learning and action.

From a network evaluation perspective, the analysis focused on three key dimensions:

• The formation of ties between participants across sectors.

• The quality and utility of those ties for professional practice.

• The emergence of shared understanding and coordination within the infrastructure field.

Key Findings: Knowledge, Perceptions, and Network Effects

At the individual level, the evaluation found high levels of satisfaction with the program and strong contributions to participants’ knowledge and capabilities. Participants reported significant learning about the roles, constraints, and challenges faced by other infrastructure actors, particularly across central and local government. This knowledge was perceived as directly relevant to their day-to-day work and to managing cross-organizational interfaces.

Beyond knowledge gains, the evaluation identified clear perceptual shifts. Participants developed a more systemic and nuanced understanding of the infrastructure field, reporting greater awareness that barriers and delays often stem from structural and regulatory complexity rather than from arbitrary behavior. This shift was accompanied by increased openness to dialogue, listening, and coordination with other organizations.

From a network perspective, the evaluation showed that the program successfully fostered personal trust-based relationships across sectors. Most participants maintained professional contact with peers beyond formal program activities, using the network for consultation, problem-solving, and navigating organizational bottlenecks. Notably, most participants believed that these connections were likely to lead to concrete outcomes, and the majority were able to point to multiple practical collaborations or coordinated actions that emerged as a result of the program.

At the same time, the evaluation found that while relational and consultative collaboration had strengthened, it was still early to observe stable patterns of joint action. This finding highlights the cumulative nature of network effects and the importance of continued facilitation and alumni engagement mechanisms to translate relationships into collaborative practice.