How can you develop collaborative programs that meet community needs while maintaining autonomy?

3 Negotiate roles and responsibilities

Once you have identified one or more partners interested in collaborating, it is essential to negotiate the roles and responsibilities of each party and establish the terms and conditions of the collaboration. To ensure everyone is on the same page and avoid potential misunderstandings or conflicts, you should create a written agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the purpose, goals, and outcomes of the program; the scope, duration, and budget of the program; the roles, tasks, and expectations of each partner; the communication and decision-making processes; the conflict resolution and termination procedures; as well as the ownership and sharing of data, materials, and results.

4 Implement and monitor the program

Once you have a formal agreement with your partner(s), you can start implementing and monitoring the program. This involves coordinating and executing the activities, managing the resources, and reporting the progress and results of the program. You should maintain regular and transparent communication with your partner(s), and use various tools and methods, such as meetings, emails, phone calls, surveys, or feedback forms, to exchange information and feedback. You should also track and measure the performance and impact of the program, using the indicators and methods that you agreed on in the MOU. You should document and report the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned of the program, and share them with your partner(s) and other stakeholders.

5 Evaluate and sustain the program

The final step of developing a collaborative program is to evaluate and sustain it. This involves assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and sustainability of the program, and identifying the best practices, outcomes, and impacts of the collaboration. You should use both quantitative and qualitative data, and involve your partner(s) and other stakeholders, such as beneficiaries, donors, or policymakers, in the evaluation process. You should also determine the future of the program and the collaboration, and decide whether to continue, modify, or end it. You should celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of each partner, and maintain the relationships and networks that you built through the collaboration.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?