New philanthropy and policy networks in global education governance: the case of OECD's netFWD

Abstract

Based on network ethnography and social network analysis, this paper takes the Network of Foundations Working for Development (netFWD), created by the OECD in 2012, as an example of an emergent transnational network of global policy actors. By convening some of the world's most important private philanthropy providers, the network is pursuing a new philanthropy rationale in global education governance, more engaged on results, networking, skill development, and evaluation based on standardised data. The results show the OECD's central role in the network, acting as a place of knowledge production and social order, and that netFWD can provide an opportunity to expand new forms of political influence and enactment by international organisations and non-state actors in the global education governance.