What we've learnt about cross-sector collaboration

We see partnerships & dialogue across sectors as critical for evolving the development of individuals and organisations to a new level to solve problems that we have collectively created, and must collectively solve.

Many experts agree:

“We are all standing on the edge of the cliff that is crumbling. Somewhere off in mist is the realm of sustainability. We have to build a bridge to get that realm of sustainability and companies that are good at building that bridge, bringing others along with them, and having conversations with their adversaries, will do the best” (Anon. interviewee)

“Cross-sector partnering between business, government, and nonprofits will be the collaboration paradigm of the 21st century.” James Austin, The Collaboration Challenge

•"Partnering is a response to failure…because we can’t do it alone" R. Tennyson, The Partnering Initiative

The image below represents one way of thinking about society as nested systems. Each individual is different; each organisation is comprised of different individuals (e.g. green NGO organisation comprised of NGO people, some business minded, some policy-oriented); and society is comprised of different organisations or sectors.

If we want to live happily within the constraints of the biosphere, we are going to have to re-imagine new ways of working together with each other and with all other beings on earth. Whether we like it or not we are part of an intricately interdependent web of life whose connecting threads are being severed at an accelerating rate...

And are there signs that we are going to be able to stop our 'spaceship earth' from some major malfunctions? We think so, and we think collaborative dialogue & action are key strategies towards success!