Cross-sector partnering

Formally established in January 2004 as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry ( www.cpi.cam.ac.uk) and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), The Partnering Initiative draws on different strengths of both organisations: academic and practionner based. It is at the cutting edge of promoting new thinking and good practice in cross-sector partnering for sustainable development.

The Initiative includes: learning programmes, professional skills development, action research and the development of complex partnership projects.

Opportunity

The Partnering Initiative offers a wide range of opportunities for greater understanding and analysis of the partnership paradigm. It also provides the support and advisory services that help to build capacity for effective collaboration for sustainable development.

Wherever they are based, and whatever circumstances they face, all those involved at all levels of partnership (policy-makers, strategic planners, operational managers and grass-roots practitioners) will need to:

• Access information and expertise about cross-sector partnerships
• Learn from the (good and bad) experiences of others
• Build their own partnering competencies, skills and stories and
• Strive constantly for more sustainable and ‘ambitious’ outputs, outcomes and impacts from their partnering activity.

A cross-sector partnership approach to sustainable development is now a global phenomenon. However, this is only a 'good thing' if it actually works. To be truly effective and genuinely sustainable, the partnership paradigm needs to be continuously analysed, challenged and evaluated just as rigorously as it is also encouraged, energised and supported. Only in this way will it come close to reaching its hoped-for potential.

IBLF, an educational charity registered in the UK in 1990 ( www.iblf.org), provides the secretariat for the Initiative.

The Partnering Initiative offers specialist courses, research and evaluation services, undertakes commissioned work and can engage with partners in a range of innovative joint ventures abd provides a 'hub' of individuals and organisations at the forefront of new partnership practice.

In developing the 'art and science' of cross-sector partnership, The Partnering Initiative aims to make a timely and unique contribution by helping to build greater rigour, professionalism and creativity in the global partnership movement.