How can you create a successful community partnership agreement?

While the above considerations are important, I will like to offer another three: 1. Think win-win - Beyond alignment with partners, the outcome has to be beneficial for all stakeholders. This will pave the way for repeated engagement, leading to sustainable collaborations. 2. Willingness of partners to want to work with your organisation - Even if all the above considerations may be present, however, if partners have internal priorities which are not convenient to be shared taking precedence, this could result in turning down the cooperation. 3. Cultivate internal support - Develop a point of contact, within the partners, who is influential to build mindshare of your organisation.

Identifying the right partners is like finding puzzle pieces that fit perfectly, ensuring a strong foundation for the partnership. A few steps I do recommend: Research organizations and individuals who share similar goals and values. Utilize networks, social media, and community events to discover potential partners.

Be conscious to keep the relationship warm. A rejection today doesn't mean your partners will turn you down tomorrow. Always be prepared and once all conditions are favourable like the Chinese proverb 天时，地利，人和 (tian shi, di li, ren he), reach out to offer partnership opportunities.

Building rapport is akin to nurturing a seedling; it's the first step in growing a robust and fruitful partnership. No science here, just practical ways to go: You can start communicating with a clear and concise message about your intentions. Arrange meetings to discuss mutual interests and the potential for collaboration.

Be upfront about non-negotiables from the start so you know each other's bottomline. Pre-empt on expected challenges along the way so that solutions could be drawn up in advance. Where outcomes are not met, conduct after action reviews, making provisions to reevaluate the partnership if need be.

Defining roles and expectations in a partnership is essential as it provides clear guidance and understanding for everyone involved. A secret sauce for balanced and healthy relationships: Clearly outline each partner's responsibilities and contributions. Set realistic expectations and goals for the partnership.

Usually we invest so many time and resources building partnerships, but not the same care for keeping relationships lasting much. Sad true. To save ourselves from that waste of resources, we have to: Regularly communicate and meet to assess progress and address any issues. Adapt and refine the partnership based on feedback and changing circumstances.

Step 5 (the signing) suggests you consult with your legal advisor but I would propose you do so at Step 4 instead - drafting the agreement. This way you have expertise up front and can ensure you are presenting the best initial draft. If you do not have a legal team, consider running the agreement by a friend or colleague with experience, or run it through a program like ChatGPT. If you do the latter, be sure to share a clear voice and style you expert for the document review, and ask it to avoid jargon. Do not trust what it produces as a legal document. All this said, there are many opportunities to work with others as in-kind partners and where a legally binding document is not necessary. This is common with new and small communities.