Getting Intentional: How can we encourage and support cross-sector partnerships within the post-2015 framework?

Photo: Jon Warren/World Vision. Friendship, Rwanda

Even under the best-case scenario of all the MDGs being fulfilled, the task of eradicating extreme poverty will remain unfinished after 2015. The most vulnerable, those who have been left behind, still need to be reached. This will only be possible by taking new approaches. The same-old approaches have not and will not be enough. Cross-sector partnerships have huge potential to deliver the innovation needed.

World Vision believes it is vital to get intentional about realising the potential of cross-sector partnerships - this requires adopting targets in the post-2015 framework that specifically encourage and support their use. Based on this World Vision study we are proposing the inclusion of the following four targets for governments:

  • T1: At country level, a single, action-oriented multi-stakeholder platform covering all of the new post-2015 goals is in place, convened by government. The platform supports the establishment and execution of cross-sector partnerships as a key mode of implementation to achieve the government's development priorities,and provides a clear entry point for all potential partners.

  • T2: Accountability mechanisms are in place for all cross-sector partnerships.

  • T3: Donor countries (including developing countries through South-South cooperation) commit to the provision of financial and technical assistance to developing country governments to enable T1 and T2 to be achieved.

  • T4: A global, multi-stakeholder issue platform is in place for each of the new post-2015 goals, to convene diverse stakeholders and to support alignment with (and link to) national-level platforms.


We'd like to hear your views:

  • Do you think there should be targets for cross-sector partnerships in the post-2015 framework? Why?
  • Are there aspects of the enabling environment to support cross-sector partnerships that are not covered by these targets? What changes would you like to see to what is being proposed?
  • Do you think it is possible, or indeed beneficial, to have one such multi-stakeholder platform at the national level and one lead platform for each of the new post-2015 goals at the global level?
  • What key influencing opportunities (e.g. events, supportive organisations, influential individuals) can you recommend for advocacy on the inclusion of targets such as these in the post-2015 framework?

Please share your thoughts below!

Editor's Note:

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Read the Blog: Cross-sector Partnerships, Business, and the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda

For those interstested, here's a link to the latest (2 June) Open Working Group draft of goals and targets....http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/4044140602wo...

Target 17.6 talks about mutli-stakeholder partnerships in developing countries. No mention of platforms at national or global levels...

Welcome to this online, written discussion. We've got a great panel today to explore the question on how to encourage and support cross-sector partnerships within the post-2015 framework.

Let's kick off with the first question:

Q1: Do you think there should be targets for cross-sector partnerships in the post-2015 framework? Why?

Mike ....very interesting as we are just back from meetings at the UN about indicators to measure "human efforts" from the private sector....but also in discussion here in Colombia and action plan to build this kind of platform!

What came through the study was that we need more cross-sector partnerships –reaching scale faster etc. Setting targets provides focus and attention…

Yes! A huge opportunity was missed by the MDGs in not getting business involved from the outset - here's a chance to get all actors to get involved in the next set of development goals...

Hi Luc - do you think these targets are what we should be going for? ie on the enabling environment for partnerships...? or should we be including something else?

Its critical that all sectors are involved...but not all NGOs are supportive...there's still lots of misunderstanding...

Are there any meaningful efforts (existing efforts) to build not only such a platform but also the financial infrastructures that would make this "partnership" sustainable and effective

I think Jonathan can probably share experience from what the SUN Business Network is doing in this space....

Luc - I think this an important point in WV's report - that we need to finance capacity to develop partnerships in governments, this is possible as donors and governments are increasingly recognising that we need new ways of working to tackle complex development challenges

The Partnering Initiative is also involved in work to set up platforms at the national level and I think Darian will be able to talk about their early experience...

Those interviwed in the study felt that platforms were a key componene to accelerative networking, leading to exploration leading to partnership development and implementation...

yes - none of this will work without the resources to support the platform and build capacity in all sectors...the question is, is it worth that investment. We think so and overall the interviewees in this study felt so too...

Glad to see this salient point being given the desired attention for the MDGs! At Friends Africa, we have seen the powerful influence of the private sector in supporting health advocacy, innovation and transformation over the last five years. We focus on galvanizing the efforts of the government, civil society and private sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Also saying hello to Ms Bulc!

Thank you Mike and Zahid, for invite and hosting this timely discussion.

Glad to join you and our audience!

As this is being discussed, we are looking at how to build this financial system so that it can mitigate currency fluctuations and transaction cost. I am extremely interested in this proposal...to see how to not only advocate for an objective ..or to be an indicator but also to have a model that is run privately.

Ok let's move on to the next question:

Q2: Are there aspects of the enabling environment to support cross-sector partnerships that are not covered by these targets? What changes would you like to see to what is being proposed?

Yes, clear targets, roles and responsabilities are important, for all stakeholders. Each has a different role to play - we need to better define what these roles are.

Hi Foluke - great to hear of your experience. So what do you think about these as targets to support cross-sector partnerships? Do you think global and national platforms are key?

The Partnering Initiative just published a 'Roadmap' for driving business as a partner in development. In terms of an enabling environment for partnership it includes:

  • Build trust across the sectors and understanding of the benefits of partnering;
  • Ensure open and inclusive planning of development priorities, thereby directly engaging business and building business relevance and buy-in;
  • Create in-country platforms to systematically broker partnerships;
  • Ensure partnership good practice and effectiveness and measure results to demonstrate value;
  • Build institutional capacity for partnering including individual partnering skills and understanding.

Certainly there needs to be the right architecture to make partnerships happen at scale. Targets can be made for the development of the architecture, to ensure that partnerships can happen wherever there is an alignment of interest between business and other development actors.