Time for Change

As the world continues to face many complex challenges there is now a clear recognition that these challenges or ‘tough problems’ will not be solved by ‘business as usual’.

The traditional isolated methods and systems of government, education, not-for-profit organisations and business fall short of the mark.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR DRAMATIC CHANGE

As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic and global momentum builds to tackle climate change the time has come for dramatic change – a change we must embrace if we are to see results rather than rhetoric. There is a great urgency for all nations, sectors, organisations and communities to ‘work together’ to solve these complex challenges.

However, working with complex and intractable issues requires a different way of operating if a sustainable change is to be achieved. Partnering, and specifically cross sector partnering, can be the enabler to achieve the innovative solutions that we need.

The advent of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and particularly Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals – is a clear demonstration that cross sector partnering is being seen as the enabler to tackle and solve these global goals, such as: Climate Action, No Poverty, Quality Education, Gender Equality and more.

“SDG 17 recognises multi-stakeholder partnerships as important vehicles to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, particularly developing countries. It seeks to encourage and promote effective public, public -private and civil society partnerships”

(The United Nations)

This global momentum around cross sector partnering has also resulted from the emergence of a number of new approaches to developing a more sustainable and equitable world; such as Shared Value, Blended Value, Collective Impact and Impact Investing, which are being adopted in various settings throughout the world. All of these approaches involve different sectors, organisations and communities coming together to create a greater impact than could be achieved by working alone. Cross sector partnering is truly the enabler that, if carried out effectively, will result in the transformational change and innovation that is needed. It is the means to the end.

This paper addresses the challenges around maximising the potential and value from cross sector partnering and what it takes for individuals and organisations to set the right conditions for this to occur.