SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING INNOVATIONS WE HAVE DOCUMENTED HAVE IN COMMON THAT THEY ARE COLLABORATIVE.
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GEORG KELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UN GLOBAL COMPACT
HARNESS THE POWER OF COLLABORATION
We live in an era of ‘wicked’ interconnected trans-border problems too large and too complex for any one actor or sector to solve alone. Embracing complexity means recognising the need for cross-sector collaboration. Simple solutions from operating in silos have proven costly and have failed to adequately address challenges. By pooling resources, knowledge, competence and insights from a range of actors, new solutions, approaches and opportunities can be brought to light and efforts to transform existing structures and practices scaled. However, realising synergies from collaboration has proved difficult.
For collaboration to work, more effective models are needed, and there is a need to ensure clarity and alignment on objectives, roles and responsibility and reporting lines as well as clarity on the circumstances under which collaboration can work and similarly when it is not a good strategy. Collaboration is clearly more desirable if there is a demonstrated win-win situation e.g. if the size of the pie is increased for all. By working more effectively together we can more quickly advance our common goals.
WHAT CAN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY DO?
BUSINESS Implement a company policy to engage in partnerships locally to address complex challenges and nurture local initiatives and solutions
GOVERNMENT Identify effective collaboration models to overcome complex sustainability challenges
Identify effective collaboration models to overcome complex sustainability challenges
Establish collaborative platforms for ideas and solutions
Citizens, coordinated by civil society organizations (CSOs) need to hold their governments to account
Align initiatives with local priorities Engage in collective action efforts with peers to move the sustainability agenda and create a level playing field
CIVIL SOCIETY
Incentivise volunteerism e.g. allow tax deductions for it
Teach collaborative leadership in schools
CHECK OUT
The ground-breaking energy efficiency retrofit of the Empire State Building realized by a team of leading organizations - such as the Rocky Mountain Institute - to not only maximize energy savings, but also build a strong economic case.
DNV GL A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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