Collaboration
Top Tips
Guide To Constructing Effective Partnerships by ELRHA
Online interactive guide and downloadable report: http://www.elrha.org/ep/the-online-guide-for-effective-partnerships
The Partnership Toolbox developed by WWF – supports the development of effective and strong partnerships
http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/wwf_parthershiptoolboxartweb.pdf
Overview
There are several tools available that support the development and formalization of collaborations between NGOs and Research Institutes.
Linking NGOs and Research Institutes:
Both the Research Matching Facility developed by ELRHA (Enhancing Learning & Research on Humanitarian Action 2012) and the Medicus Mundi Marketplace for NGOs “in search of research” and young researchers provide a platform for NGOs and Research Institutes to meet, outline their needs and start discussing a possible collaboration.
Guidelines supporting the development of a collaboration:
ELRHA developed a checklist to discuss with a potential partner the aim of collaboration, what each side aims to gain, what the outputs are, what the process will be and who will be involved.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) developed a partnership toolkit that includes questions to be considered right at the beginning such as, how to develop a shared vision; does this partnership need to be legally binding; what has to be in place to work together etc.
The Swiss Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries (KFPE) developed a guide that supports the planning and implementation of fair and equal research partnerships. The guide includes “11 principles” that support the process of sound knowledge generation, building mutual trust, mutual learning and shared ownership in a research partnership. In addition “7 questions” are meant to start a debate on how to organize research collaboration in an effective way, and on how best to translate knowledge into benefits for society.
Formalization of collaboration:
Different examples exist that provide support in formalizing collaboration such as a checklist highlighting the points to be included in an agreement (ELRHA 2012), as well as tools to develop a partnership agreement (WWF 2009; The Partnering Initiative 2011)
Implementation and Monitoring:
Especially the toolbox developed by WWF includes different tools facilitating the implementation of collaboration such as a Partnership Baseline Matrix as well as a Partnership Monitoring Tool.