I probably shouldn’t have a favourite ACFID Quality Principle, but I do.  It’s QP 5 on Collaboration.  It recognises that no one should go it alone in development and humanitarian work.  Mutual respect, transparency and understanding are the cornerstones of all quality partnerships.”
Bridi Rice, Director of Policy & Advocacy at ACFID

This month we are pleased to wrap up our Spotlight on the Code series, shining the light on Quality Principle 5: Development and humanitarian responses are optimised through effective coordination, collaboration and partnership. Partnership is central to ACFID, as our talented staff rely on our partnerships with you, our members, allies and stakeholders to deliver on our vision: to see Australia acting with compassion and fairness for a just, sustainable and equitable world.

In this Spotlight, we’ll explore different partnership models, hear from some of our high-performing members, and link you to further information.

Partners of Australian NGOs are diverse. We work with and through a range of coalitions to create catalytic social and economic change.  The partners of development organisations include individuals, informal groups, businesses, institutions, governments and universities. It’s no surprise then, that the structure and nature of partnerships have also evolved and become more diverse. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to effective collaboration. 

Partnerships of all types are critical to achieving effective development and humanitarian outcomes and it’s essential that we invest time and effort to ensure they are successful. A healthy partnership needs to understand the context in which partners are working, acknowledge each partners’ strengths and challenges, and recognise and respond to unequal power dynamics. For collaboration to work effectively, organisations must invest in developing quality relationships with partners that generate trust over time. 

The political and security landscape has also changed, and there are greater public expectations and scrutiny of all development partners. Accordingly, the Code requires members to conduct due diligence assessment with organisations they fund.

Understanding of partnership principles and partnership practice has evolved considerably in recent years, and the Code’s Compliance Indicators have been crafted to emphasise the importance of joint negotiation, shared goals, and effectiveness in partnership approaches.

Quality Principle 5 is implemented by ACFID members through three commitments:

• Commitment 5.1 We respect and understand those with whom we collaborate.
• Commitment 5.2 We have a shared understanding of respective contributions, expectations, responsibilities and accountabilities of all parties.
• Commitment 5.3 We invest in the effectiveness of our collaborations and partnerships.

Here’s what we have in store for you:

• We interview Matt Anderson, CEO of KIT International who elaborates on their changing approaches to partnerships, the benefits generated when partners lead and evolve projects, and the importance they place on monitoring partnerships along the way.

• We hear from ACFID member Act For Peace, about how they work in the CAN DO Consortium, ways they support their in-country partners, and how such collaborations create efficiencies for everyone.

• We profile how 7 ACFID members partner in 7 different ways. The partners of Australian NGOs have become significantly more diverse in recent years, with more development actors in many developing countries. This blog highlights the diverse structure and evolving nature of partnerships.

• We reflect on the valuable role that partnerships play in supporting disability inclusive research and practice, building on the recently released ‘Practical Guide: Making research inclusive of people with disabilities’,

• And finally, we shine the light on some valuable ACFID resources to help you develop and manage your partnerships. Developing and Managing Partnerships (a Guidance Tool for the Code of Conduct), a Collaboration Guidance Note and a Partnership Agreement Template.

We hope you enjoy the journey as we spotlight Quality Principle 5, the last in our Spotlight series which provides thematic ‘deep dives’ into each of the Code’s Quality Principles. A wrap up of the best of Spotlight –  stories, case studies, learning and resources – is on the ACFID website.