Resources

Publications, Articles & Websites

• The Partnering Initiative (TPI) has developed dozens of guidebooks and case studies for working in partnership on the SDGs. Definitely take a look at The Partnering Toolbook for the basics of partnering, Moving On to understand the dynamic phases or cycle of partnership, and Talking the Walk, which outlines the important role communication plays.
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 outlines how the SDGs can only be achieved through strong partnerships.
• The Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation provides resources on how multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive development outcomes.
• Platforms for Partnerships outlines best practices for in-country multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• The United Nations has partnered with Accenture to outline views on partnerships with businesses by different UN agency leaders.
• The World Bank has several publications on partnerships in international development. How effective are international development partnerships looks at 9 partnerships and analyses their effectiveness.
• OECD and UNDP regularly monitor the effectiveness of development cooperation and partnerships, including their impact.
• OECD LEED forum for local partnerships and governance has a guide book for partnerships.
• World Economic Forum is a great resource for articles and speeches emphasising partnership across sectors. Why partnership is the business trend to watch has many learnings and insights that resonate today.
• Devex offers eight success factors to global health partnerships in What makes a global health partnership succeed.
• ODI has published a case study on Development co-operation and the partnership-ownership nexus.
• McKinsey & Company and many other consulting firms provide publications and best practices on working in partnership. A broader overview of what makes strategic partnerships succeed and how is provided by Deloitte.
• The Institute for Development Studies has looked specifically at research partnerships in international development, an additional publication in this area is Fair and equitable partnerships for international development research.
• Harvard Business Review has published articles on how and under what circumstances competitors can partner.  

Quotes

To deliver on the promise of a prosperous and peaceful future, development actors will have to find new ways of working together and leveraging genuine partnerships that make the most of expertise, technology and resources for sustainable and inclusive growth. – H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, 2017

Success in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda requires all of us to deepen our commitment and engagement to work together in creative new ways. –  H.E. Amina J. Mohammed Deputy Secretary-General United Nations, 2017

We can only make a difference through partnerships, collaboration, cooperation, and the art of listening to each other. – Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, World Bank Group, 2020

Partnerships are voluntary and collaborative relationships between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits. – United Nations definition of a partnership, GA Resolution 68/234, 66/223, 64/223, 62/211, 60/215, 58/129, 56/76

By combining inspiration, ideas and resources with our partners, we become more than the
sum of our parts. And that’s what the world needs to reach the SDGs. – United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Annual Report 2019

Impact can take many forms—from shaping the academic consensus to turning proposals into policy. Sometimes, realizing the full potential of a good idea means letting it flower elsewhere and we take pride in our role as an incubator of initiatives. – Center for Global Development (CGD)

Partners for Impact (PFI) materials