Managing Humanitarian Projects → Developing partnerships

Developing partnerships

Effective partnership relies on equal participation, shared decision making, and taking and accepting responsibility.

Working in partnership is essential to effective coordination and maximising the coverage and impact of relief efforts.

Partnerships in emergencies can take different forms:

• strategic partnerships e.g. within the Cluster Approach
• implementing partnerships between international and local agencies
• business and NGO/UN partnerships – a growing trend

Value of partnership in an emergency           

Providing services –  increases capacity to support those affected.

Exchange of ideas, knowledge, and expertise – critical to the design of effective emergency response programmes.

Advocacy and influencing decision makers – helps tackle political or social barriers to accessing those in need, and an effective response.

Solidarity and professional support –  particularly important for national and local organisations  in the face of trauma and insecurity.

Access to and sharing of information  – assists both international and local organisations in participating appropriately to an emergency.

Developing government and civil society capacity - an integral aim of disaster response interventions and the basis for longer term sustainability.

 

Pointers to identifying and negotiating partnerships

• What type of partnerships would strengthen your aims and capacity?

• What information do you have about a potential partner? ( strategy, length of establishment, reputation, capacity and governance)

• How compatible are you? (e.g. values, capacity, stakeholders)

• Is there organisational commitment on both sides?

• What can you offer and what are you looking for in a partner?

• What are your mutual expectations and understanding of what the partnership will involve? (e.g. term, purpose, roles, responsibilities, exit strategy, accountability, participation, information sharing and control)

• What form of Partnership Agreement is needed? (including governance and conflict resolution strategies)

Be aware of the cultural sensitivities and bias of both partners in assessing, negotiating and formalising a partnership

Potential pitfalls of international and local NGO partnerships

• INGO role as donor and dependence on external funding;
• Mis-match in organisational capacity and culture;
• Unequal accountability demands and access to resources;
• Staff turnover and absence of organisational commitment;
• Contrasting values and stakeholder expectations.