Partnership Synergy: A Practical Framework for Studying and Strengthening the Collaborative Advantage

Abstract

The substantial interest and investment in health partnerships in the United States is based on the assumption that collaboration is more effective in achieving health and health system goals than efforts carried out by single agents. A clear conceptualization of the mechanism that accounts for the collaborative advantage, and a way to measure it are needed to test this assumption and to strengthen the capacity of partnerships to realize the full potential of collaboration. The mechanism that gives collaboration its unique advantage is synergy. A framework for operationalizing and assessing partnership synergy, and for identifying its likely determinants, can be used to address critical policy, evaluation, and management issues related to collaboration.

Collective action for knowledge mobilisation: a realist evaluation of the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care

“…51 Where time is protected to develop high-quality action plans which are commensurate with local needs, are clear, have measurable objectives and identify persons responsible for task completion, this facilitates implementation, either because taking action is facilitated, or because the ability to mobilise resources is greater. 61 Careful action planning is associated with increased rates of change; good-quality action plans are associated with synergistic partnerships that have potential for success, 62 and better sustainability of events and adoption of interventions by other organisations not within the collaboration. 61,65 Olson et al 50 suggest that the choice of topic is a significant factor for success of the collaboration.…”

The Feasibility of Government Partnerships with NGOs in the Reproductive Health Field in Mexico

“…These are resources that, in most cases, only NGOs have to offer, and they are a valuable contribution to the success of health policy implementation. 3 Unless the government recognises the specific contributions NGOs can make to any partnership, and unless there are formal mechanisms to ensure long-term accountability and commitment on the part of the government, it will be impossible to implement fair collaborative agreements. Thus, it is necessary to make changes to the legal framework that governs the recognition of civil society organisations and partnerships with government and, in particular, which will contribute to increased confidence.…”

“…Nevertheless, the experience of collaborative work, despite significant successes, has also brought a number of problems to the surface. [1][2][3] Partnership occurs when two or more entities work together to achieve a common goal and agree to share both efforts and benefits. 4 The existence of civil society organisations suggests that citizens play an active role in the production of public goods and services that have direct consequences for them.…”

“…The main objectives of partnership between the public and private sectors and civil society organisations are to achieve greater efficiency; reduce duplication of services and achieve economies of scale; create civic commitment and engage the community in efforts to resolve problems; and strengthen institutional capacity across the board. 2,3,5 There are different forms of collaboration between the public sector and civil society organisations, such as NGOs. * These may consist of informal agreements to exchange information or share certain activities, training or know-how, or formal contractual agreements in which each partner contributes resources and takes on certain responsibilities.…”

“…Others may involve the evaluation or supervision by one partner of the other. 3,6 The ICPD Programme of Action asserted the need to establish effective partnerships between governments and NGOs to assist in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population and development activities. However, in a UNFPA field analysis in that same year, only 49 of 114 countries reported having taken significant measures to promote NGO participation in policy and programme implementation.…”