Launched in 2003, the Partnership Brokering Project is a project of the International Business Leaders Forum. 

The project runs a series of trainings, the  Level 1  course provides practical skills, knowledge and insight for those managing the partnering process from the earliest ‘scoping’ stage to the final ‘moving on’ phase, including the delivery of measurable benefits to all parties.

Previous participants come from more than 70 countries and a wide range of organisations including Microsoft, Shell, Care International, UNDP and the World Bank, as well as many other national and local organisations. Many report that the mix of sectors and backgrounds at the training is one of its most valuable features.

Why is this training important for the MENA region?

The profound socio-economic and political changes underway in the MENA region have been breathtaking in scale, speed and impact with on-going reverberations across the region and around the world. Such tumultuous and significant changes highlight the need for new approaches to inclusive and transparent governance. This includes greater collaboration across sectors to meet the pressing challenges of widespread poverty and unemployment, rising social tensions and crime, as well as the legacy of fear and alienation, especially amongst the youth. All these issues have profound implications for the capacity of government, business and civil society organisations to operate effectively and sustainably.

Over the past twenty years, increasing evidence gathered worldwide supports the central importance of cross sector partnerships as enabling mechanisms for reform and sustainable development. With the necessary brokering skills and combined resources, ordinary people of goodwill and commitment drawn from diverse sectors – working together – can more effectively address the extraordinary challenges of socio-economic and political reforms. In this way, multiple stakeholder partnerships can make tangible and lasting contributions to building a more equitable and stable society offering real opportunities for sustainable progress.

What does the course involve?

This course is an intensive face-to-face training with a focus on deepening understanding of the changing nature of the process management role during a partnership cycle and building key brokering skills. The course builds a sense of professionalism, an understanding of good practice principles, and promotes reflective practice.

Those who complete the course report a considerable increase in their:

• understanding of the brokering role
• professional competencies;
• capacity to reflect on their professional practice and
• confidence in brokering even quite challenging partnerships.

 ‘This is one of the best trainings I have ever attended in my years of employment.  As I have been doing a lot of work with multi-stakeholder partnership for Microsoft, this certification has helped me significantly manage and develop partnerships. I truly believe the next generation of company, public sector and non-profit leadership around the world will have the characteristics of great partnership brokers.  Anyone who manages relationships (which I believe is all of us) could really use the tools presented in this workshop!’  

(Feedback from a Microsoft employee who attended the training)

Please see our website for more information and to download an application form: www.partnershipbrokers.org

Email: info@partnershipbrokers.org