Partnerships

Because of the size and complex nature of sustainability actions, partnerships between multiple organisations/group/communities can be a good way to effectively access skills, expertise and resources (create synergy). Agenda 21 identifies partnerships as one the critical ways in which its goals can be implemented on a global scale, and Tilbury and Wortman (2004) note that partnerships which "share learning experiences can accelerate the process of change towards sustainable development."

Partnerships can range in intensity from outcome based, distant and formal (like government to government) to fully participatory, equal partnerships in which a shared goal is developed and actioned. Partnerships recognise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and can build collective capacity through knowledge and skills sharing and synergising (Tilbury & Wortman 2004).

I've come to the conclusion that partnerships are vital given the scope and multi-faceted nature of many sustainability problems. I believe that by harnessing specialist skills and knowledge of stakeholders and their issues, partners can cover alot of ground with limited resources (Tilbury & Wortman 2004) and help challenge each others assumptions about the best way to solve a particular problem.