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Improving access to domestic water through partnerships: experience in working with rural communities.The presentation focused on the concept of ‘partnership’ and the conditions for success in DRA-type schemes. Definitions of partnerships emphasise cooperation and sharing of benefits in relation to the achievement of a specified goal. Partnerships are about pooling resources but maximising the potential mutual benefits depends on understanding the power dynamics between partner organisations and reaching a shared understanding of the objectives of partnership. It is important that these issues are made explicit at an early stage.The ITDG model of partnership is as a mechanism for scaling up the development and transfer of appropriate technology, for ensuring sustainability and enabling genuine community-based development. For example ITDG is currently working in partnership with the Janaskakthi Development Centre (JDC) an NGO working in Moneragala. JDC operates a micro credit scheme which enables sustainable scaling up of ITDG’s rainwater harvesting (RWH) technologies. The experience suggests that partnership is a very different relationship to normal contracting or implementing relations. The focus is not so much on implementation and more on community empowerment. This requires continuous negotiation to foster a common culture and vision among programme participants. A number of conditions for successful partnerships can be identified: genuine agreement that partnership is necessary (as opposed to contractual agreements), building mutual respect and trust between partners, development of a shared vision and mandate, leadership, good communication, development of compatible and flexible ways of working and collaborative decision-making. Conversely characteristics of failed partnerships typically include: conflict among partners, power imbalances, hidden agendas, lack of clear purpose and goals, unrealistic financial and time commitments and incompatible ways of working. The potential value of partnerships is undoubted but successful partnerships are relatively few. A key lesson for those seeking to replicate successful models is the need to be realistic about what can be achieved in the context of short project time-frames with their associated financial constraints and ambitious targets/goals. In particular the following questions must be addressed: 1. What do we really expect from partners? |
| Last updated 6 April 2004 |