Essential ingredients of partnership building
Once selected, “an agreement should be made with our partners what each of us is going to contribute, the change we wish to achieve, how we will monitor progress, and how each of us will account for resources.“ (from 'Organization’s Approach') Organization’s experience has shown that the essential ingredients of a successful partnership are:
An agreement that this is a partnership
Clear, shared objectives and a shared agenda
Clarity of expectations (both ways)
Transparency (processes, finances, accountability)
Mutual respect and a genuine willingness to learn from each other
Partners sometimes say that what sets Organization apart from other founders is that we offer guidance and accompaniment as well as funding, which makes them feel Organization is more like a true ‘partner’.
Organization’s approach is to ensure a two-way flow of benefits between Organization and the partner; “sharing knowledge and skills” (which means Organization learning from partners as well as them learning from Organization); consulting partners about when advocacy or popular campaigning should be under Organization’s banner and when under their own; being “prepared sometimes to take a lead, but also often to follow” when working with allies on advocacy and popular campaigning; and maintaining “constructive, respectful relationships with (OI and) other affiliates”.
The relationship between Organization and a partner can last many years, and it is vital that the relationship is effectively monitored and managed. Assumptions should be regularly tested and procedures adhered to so that mutual trust does not become complacency or exploitation.