Powering a new future

Tom Wolff talked about partnerships and collaborative solutions as sparks and catalysts for social change and innovation. He said he understood collaboration to be “doing together that which you cannot do apart”. A more formal definition is:

A collaboration is a group of individuals and organisations with a common interest who agree to work together to a common goal.

The advantage of collaboration is that agencies can provide a rounded solution to problems - but in order to achieve that we need to bring to the table everyone who has a part to play, including those who would benefit. Tom offered six principles of collaboration

1. Engage a broad spectrum of the community
2. Practice true collaboration. This involved going beyond networking (talking to each other); coordination (modified activities); and cooperation (sharing resources). Collaboration occurred when you aimed to enhance the capacity of others involved.
3. Practice democracy, so that decisions are made by the group as a whole
4. Employ an ecological approach, looking at the strengths and weaknesses in the community
5. Take action - you can’t achieve change just by sitting talking
6. Align your goals and the process. For example, if you wish to develop a respectful community, you can’t achieve that by disrespectful leaderships.

Overall, research shows that successful collaborations require a clear vision; actions to get to your goals; broad leadership within the group, not just one leader; technical assistance; resources and also being prepared to work with conflict, not avoid it.