WHEN THE FORMS OF AN OLD CULTURE ARE DYING, THE NEW CULTURE IS CREATED BY A FEW PEOPLE

WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO BE INSECURE

RUDOLF BAHRO

Community Action ForumWednesday, October 29, 2008

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Workshop Objectives

Understand why organizations form partnerships

Understand how issues of power and diversity influence dynamics in partnerships

Explore partnership models, provide definitions and examples

Understand the role of ‘diversity champions’ within the organization

Discuss framework for developing equitable partnerships in the community

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Agenda

o Welcome and Introductions

o Warm Up Exercise – Experiences, Concerns & Fears in Partnerships

o Why Partnerships?

o What is Equity? What is Diversity?

o Dimensions of Power

o Laying the Groundwork for Equitable Partnerships

o Definitions and Types of Partnerships

o Models of Community-based Partnerships

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Why do organizations and groups form partnerships?

  Part of the broader community

Feeling obliged to collaborate – a requirement of funder

Transformation (to change the status quo/systemic change)

Adaptation – to adapt to the status quo or to survive and grow

Client centred care

Diversity Initiative

Accomplish what organization alone cannot

 

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Other Reasons.......

Prevent duplication of efforts

Enhance the power of advocacy and resource development

Create more public recognition and visibility

Provide a more systematic, comprehensive approach to an issue

Partnerships often improve relationships between diverse groups, and they extend “buy in” or ownership to a greater number

Can bring people and organizations who otherwise might not have any contact together

Partnerships provide the ideal framework to demonstrate inclusion and collaboration in action

Sharing of resources – financial, human, networks

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Why Partnerships continued...... 

Partnerships could be summed up in BEEP  

 B Best practiceBetter outcome

  E Economical

Efficient planning and coordination  E Equitable resources

Easy access  P Philosophical

Political     

    

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

What is equity?

Fairness, justicewhat is fair and justA system of rules and principles based on fairness and justice

Gage Canadian Dictionary

What is Diversity?

Variety, social inclusiveness, difference or discrepancyEncarta Encyclopaedia

Is there a difference between the two?

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Dimensions of power

‘Power profile’ of an organization, organizations hold power based on: Size, location Educational credentials Human resources Financial resources Organization’s staff & volunteers reflect dominant culture History & longevity Credibility/reputation

In planning partnerships we need to appreciate the diversity of players We need to think about how the differences can be helpful We need to think about where they may lead to conflict We must be realistic in what the partner brings to the table, i.e. resources, skills, knowledge

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Dimensions of power cont’d

Let’s look at the flip side of some of the conventionally powerful organizations:

Being a small, non mainstream organization means that you may be more in touch with particular groups, aware of the needs, able to get the word out

Being grass roots and without major funders may mean you can quickly change your mandate or respond to ‘emerging needs’ – less bureaucracy, more responsive

Without a ‘property’ that it owns the organization may be more able to go where most needed, have satellites, etc.

Mainstream organization may lack flexibility One size fits all can mean that organizations are unwelcoming for some communities,

have an image that’s hard to change, etc.

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Laying the Groundwork for Creating Equitable Partnerships

Develop a specific action plan for establishing good relationships and partnerships with diverse groups in the community - identify areas for participation, for example service planning, marketing of services, etc.

Consider the approaches to be taken in reaching out to diverse groups – via community leaders, formal organizations or associations, ethno-specific organizations

Develop a financial plan – estimate the cost of establishing relationships and partnerships

Develop an internal communication plan – purpose of outreach, impact on organization, anticipated outcomes, potential challenges, capacity building required internally, request for support from staff and volunteers, person responsible for the project

Research the target community - for effectiveness accurate and reliable information on the different groups in the community should be collected

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Other Considerations in Laying the Groundwork Cont’d

Attitudinal information – staff’s attitudes towards persons of diverse backgrounds

Perception of one’s knowledge of diversity issues

Perception of one’s skills in working with people from different groups

Organizational attitudes towards change

Organizational attitudes towards risk taking

Staff feelings about the direction the organization is going in

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Definitions & Types of Partnerships

 Collaboration is a mutually beneficial and well defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. It is a process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible. The individuals who represent collaborating organizations are partners

  Partnership implies the sharing of resources, responsibilities, decision-making, power and

benefits between two or more parties. Partnerships can vary from short term to long term, from formal to informal.

 

Generally partnership and collaboration share similar concepts in most of the literature, they tend to be used interchangeably.

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Cooperation is an informal relationship that exists without any commonly defined mission, structure or planning. Information is shared as needed and authority is retained by each organization.

Coordination is a more formal relationship and an understanding of compatible missions. Some planning and division of roles are required and communication channels are established. Authority still rests with the individual organizations.

Inter-sectoral Collaboration involves different levels of sectors such as the public, the government, the voluntary and the private sectors. Cross system collaboration and Interagency networking are similar concepts.

 

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Consumer/professional partnerships are defined as: Friendships and relationships; collaboration and participation; power-sharing; participation of diverse stakeholders; shared resources and responsibilities; working towards equality

Collaborative research partnerships involve practitioners, consumers and community residents as research partners with university researchers

  Community partnerships are referred to partnerships which take place in a community, have

community members involved and have a direct impact on the community rather than within an organization or institution.

 

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

  4 Different Models of Community-based Partnerships:  Consultative or Advisory - partnerships that are formed to receive public input around change or

to gather ideas for future policies

  Contributory – partnerships that are formed to benefit the work of a community or community

organizations; however the founders set the objectives and the partners can agree to them or not   Operational – partnerships that are formed to set the strategic direction for a product or services;

however, the operational implementation is undertaken by ONE partner   Collaborative – partnerships that are formed on an equal status in model/service designing,

program/budget management, resources contribution, shared accountability/responsibility and decision-making

 

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Best Practices for Sustaining Partnerships

Shared vision Common and compatible goals and objectives Division of roles and responsibilities Balancing the power structure Effective communications Supportive structures and process Commitment and commitment of time Trust and respect Leadership Resources Partnership agreement Continued nuturing

Building Equitable Leadership and Partnerships

Thank You

And remember

You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it!!