CANBERRA — Partnerships are at the core of Australia’s aid program, with the Business Partnerships Platform a key example of how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to encourage diversity in partners and ideas in overseas development, enabling a greater impact within developing countries. But what makes a good partnership? And what breaks a partnership?
As the BPP enters its third round of funding through an India-focused round, closing on April 12, a wealth of learning on partnerships has been established. DFAT and Palladium, the managers for the BPP, are using this evidence base to better inform, prepare, and support partnerships — and even to facilitate better partnerships between DFAT and Palladium.
Julie Mundy, partnerships advisor with the BPP and director of training for the Partnership Brokers Association, has had eight years of experience in supporting partnerships. She first saw the need in this area during her three decades in international development, including as CEO of Marie Stopes International.