Evaluating cross-sector partnerships

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 12:52 — Cristina Sette

Publication Type:

Conference Proceedings

Authors:

Source:

'Public-private partnerships in the post WSSD context', Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus, Copenhagen Business School (2002)

Keywords:

Evaluation; partnership

Abstract:

In recent years, the role of the private sector in development has changed significantly. Whereas for many years business and especially the multinational companies were seen as part of the development problem, they are today increasingly recognised as key players in development and integrated into solutions. At the World Economic Forum in 1999, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, presented the Global Compact challenging business leaders all over the world to 'embrace and enact' a set of universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards and the environment. The Compact also encourages business to engage in cross-sector partnerships with the public sector and civil society in order to promote development (see www.unglobalcompact.org). At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 the need for and the importance of collaborative alliances between the three sectors was highlighted further. Partnerships as a new approach to development were put very high on the agenda and during the 9 days of the summit more than 300 partnerships between governments, NGOs and business were announced (see www.johannesburgsummit.org). Since then the partnership model has gained further ground as a new approach to development and an important tool for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. The partnership model is not only supported by the development community. It is also widely embraced by the private sector. Reference is increasingly made to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the triple bottom line whereby the traditional accounting line for companies is extended to also encompass environmental and social performance (Elkington, 1997).