Partnerships: The Good, The Bad and The Uncertain

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 4th International Partnership Conference in Trondheim, Norway, June 27 – July 1, 1998. The paper describes the research in partnerships that the Caledon Institute has conducted over the course of its multi-year Social Partnerships Project. Four major categories of partnerships are described: public education, social marketing, community investment and social change. Positive aspects of partnerships include the ability to increase investment in a given problem by harnessing previously untapped resources in new and creative ways. Major concerns about partnerships focus on public sector divestiture, power imbalances and ethical issues. Uncertainties arise in relation to accountability, up-front investment and unexpected events.
ISBN – 1-894159-08-X