ECDPM Partnership Strategy 2008
Background
ECDPM has long-standing experience with different types of partnerships and collaborative arrangements in Europe and the ACP. These include governmental as well as non- governmental organisations at the local, national, regional and global levels. In its strategy for 2007–11, the Centre distinguishes three categories of partnerships:
(1) Institutional partners are governmental actors that play a major role in the work of ECDPM. Here, a distinction is made between European institutional partners, which support the Centre’s mandate, strategy and programmes through multi-annual institutional and programme agreements and funding, and ACP/Southern institutional partners as key (inter)governmental organisations with which the Centre seeks to build long-term relationships in specific areas of EU-ACP/AU interactions.
(2) Strategic partners are non-governmental institutions and networks in the European Union and ACP/South with which ECDPM cooperates on the basis of shared values and common interests. These partnerships have a long-term perspective, and their aim is to generate and share relevant knowledge and information with a view to enhancing the overall quality of key strategic policy processes.
(3) Ad hoc partner cooperation takes place around specific common tasks or projects with a view to achieving results in the short term. Some of these collaborative arrangements (e.g. joint studies, conferences, consultations) have the potential to become other types of partnerships in the long run.
In line with the recommendations of the external evaluation of ECDPM in 2006 and the 3rd capacity strategy of ECDPM’s institutional strategy for 2007–11, the Centre has committed itself to further develop and refine its Partnership Strategy with a particular focus on ACP/Southern partners. To that end, this Partnership Strategy document sketches five dimensions of Centre partnership: (1) objectives, (2) guiding principles, (3) criteria for partnership development, (4) the partnering process and roles of ECDPM and (5) management of partnership by ECDPM.
