Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) promote sustainable development by enabling equal and long-term cooperation, mobilizing resources from different actors and thus achieving the best possible synergy effects. They are a versatile instrument that can be used in various thematic areas to achieve the SDGs. It is therefore essential to raise awareness of MSPs as a method and to empower stakeholders to implement it. In this way, stakeholders can use the method profitably for their project context and decide whether an MSP is the right form of partnership for them.
To raise awareness of MSPs as a development cooperation tool, a digital information event was organized for GIZ interns. The interactive webinar began with an introduction to multi-stakeholder partnerships, covering SDG 17, the partnership spectrum, the definition of MSPs, as well as different types and phases of MSPs. In addition, the principles of an MSP were explained using various examples of established MSPs such as the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa. In a Q&A session, participants were encouraged to ask long-standing consultant John Contenius in-depth questions about the practice of MSPs and the work of Partnerships2030. The participants showed great interest in the topic and asked many questions, for example about the typical challenges of MSPs and equal cooperation in MSPs. In order to make the topic not only informative but also practically applicable, the participants also performed a role play. Using a fictitious example on the topic of social and environmental standards in the textile value chain, the participants took on the roles of the state, private sector and civil society to simulate negotiation processes in an MSP in a playful way.
We would like to thank everyone for their participation and are delighted at the high level of interest in the topic.