Daniel Temesgen (PhD)

PASTORALIST FORUM ETHIOPIA

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PARTNERSHIPS

IN ACCELERATING PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT

JUNE 2011

Hawassa

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Contents Introduction & Background Advantages of partnerships in development Terminologies/theoretical frameworks Partnership Formation Factors accounting for partnership formation Points to consider for successful partnership

Introduction

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This presentation is based on a review of literature on partnerships in development

With the following purposes:

a) Highlight the current thinking on partnerships and networks

b) Reviews key concepts and their definitions, major typologies and approaches of partnership

Background

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Over the last decades there has been an increase in the use of new forms of partnership in both the public and the private sector

This growth in cooperative arrangements is a global phenomenon, fueled by advances in information technology, globalization of the economy, pressures

It has become increasingly clear that relying only on one’s own resources and skills would not let an organization go far.

Background

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The shift towards increased reliance on partnerships is most visible in accelerating development Today, most of the development programs are linked in numerous ways with collaborators in dozens of countries

In recent estimate the number of partnerships the 16 CGIAR centers was found to be 2,000

Advantages of partnerships in development

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It help share filter information and ideas

Bring together the expertise (scholars) at national and international environment frequently characterized by fragmentation and isolation

Networks facilitate actual cooperative activity among actors that otherwise would not occur

Enable participating actors to be more productive in their development endeavors Generated synergy by relying on the comparative advantage

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Access to knowledge. To remain relevant and affective, to tap into the knowledge of others. much of the knowledge needed exist in private firms, NGOs,Gos

Greater efficiency. partnerships can contribute significantly to achievement of system goals, and learning experiences of others on ways of improving efficiency.

New strategic opportunities. The entire agricultural research community is going through a transformation involving greater reliance on partnerships

Terminologies/theoretical frameworks

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Review of the recent literature on partnerships reveals that:

The three most widely used terms are alliances, networks, and partnerships.

Other terms used to define similar relationships include cooperation, collaboration, and coalition. One common characteristic of these terms is that they all refer to inter-institutional relationships.

Networks

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A network is a “multi-partner cooperative arrangement between more than one organization or firm”

A few definitions from the literature follow:

Networks constitute the basic social form that permits inter-organizational interactions of exchange, intensive and, joint action

Networks are clusters of organizations, are non-hierarchical collectives of legally separate units

Networking is the art of creating and/or maintaining a cluster of organizations for the purpose of exchanging, acting among the member organizations

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Partnerships

A partnership is a long-term cooperative arrangement between two or more institutions involving exchange or sharing of resources to attain a common objective.

The focus of attention is on inter-institutional relationship

long-term Cooperative arrangements The minimum number of partners is two, but there is no upper limit on the number of institutions that belong to a partnership

Exchange or sharing of resources

Partnership Types

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Partnerships vary in terms of several variables--for example: size (e.g., number of partners), geographical scope of activities (e.g., local, national, international),type of partner (e.g., private sector, public sector, public-private, GO_NGO)

As a rough categorization of partnerships

Research partnerships (these involve cooperative arrangements with other institutions for conducting joint research)

Exchange partnerships (these involve formal arrangements for exchanging information, materials, staff, intellectual property, etc., with other institutions)

Service partnerships (these involve providing services to a partner institution, e.g., training, consultancy, capacity building, as part of a long-term relationship – not as a market-based transaction)

Partnership Formation

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Why ?

Entering in to Partnership is strategic decisions organizations make in order to fulfill their mission.

These include the following:

Mobilizing resources. helps mobilize additional resources and enhance the potential of the organization’s own resources to generate impact.

( Information, material, capital, technology and management)

Competencies. facilitate Pooling complementary know-how and skills and learning . Increasing the scale of activities. lowering average costs and increase outputs by exploiting the synergy generated by relying on the comparative advantage of each partner

Factors accounting for partnership formation

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Four conditions are necessary for collaboration among two or

more institutions:

Willingness to collaborate A need for expertise A need for financial resources, and A need for efficiencies. When all four conditions are met, then collaboration in the form of a systemic partnership is likely.

If a willingness to collaborate does not exist, then the development of any advanced form of institutional arrangement cannot occur.

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Points to consider for successful partnership

Common objectives & interests among partners Existence of clear agenda and objective/vision Trust between partners Commitment to common goal Clear MOU between partners Clearly defined roles and responsibilities among the partner Respect for all opinions Exchange knowledge/experiences Good communication

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Empirical studies indicated that : for successful partnership

Commitment (of partners to the partnership) Coordination (of activities) Trust Quality of communication (accuracy, timeliness, adequacy Participation (joint planning and goal setting) Joint problem solving

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