Lost the way? : Knowledge transfers from individuals to organisations in the field of Swedish aid co-operation

Abstract: This thesis is focusing on how knowledge transfers could be enhanced within aid co-operation contributing to more sustainable results. The research will use the theory of knowledge transfers from the field of economics and development of firms, especially the work done by Dixon, Szulanski, King and McGrath. The theory highlights the need that regulatory documents and organisations address knowledge transfers and value them. Still the findings indicates that this is not the case in the Swedish context and that the documents are focused on the assumption the individual capability is automatically transferred to organizational capacity, this is not supported by the theoretical framework. The study will focus on one of many competence development programs of Sida namely the ITP-programs and particularly on the ITP-programs focus on increasing individual capability and how this should contribute to a country’s development. The findings indicate that there is coherence between the factors and hindrances of success and the theoretical framework. Furthermore there could be a relationship between gaining more sustainable results if enhancing the knowledge transfer. One interesting conclusion is that there could be a connection between the ongoing debate of western ideologies impact on aid co-operation and the opinion of the knowledge from Swedish ITP-programs.