How are we learning in North-to-South NGO partnerships?

See also

Full report: discussion participants explore how to create genuine partnerships

Learning in partnerships BOND/Exchange paper
(PDF 12 pages, 450 KB)

Key list: learning in partnership

Exchange lunchtime discussion 22 June 2004

More genuine, consistent and creative ways of working in partnership are needed, according to recent research by INTRAC. Vicky Brehm presented the research at a lively Exchange lunchtime discussion, drawing in particular on examples from Tanzania, Cambodia and Brazil. Discussion participants explored the effects of funding, power relationships, organisational culture and timescales on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are trying to learn from each other.

One participant noted: ‘‘We don’t consider what everyone is bringing to the table. Southern NGOs bring Southern perspectives and expertise from the South and Northern NGOs gain from that. A lot of Northern NGOs could not survive without their partners but this is never highlighted.’’

The discussion built on the recently published BOND/Exchange briefing paper Learning in partnerships (PDF).

• Read the full report to find out how discussion participants thought genuine partnerships could be developed.