Although these new types of partnerships have much to offer, it is important to maintain realistic expectations and to be aware of the challenges to cooperation. Partners may come to a project with good intentions, but they still have individual needs and requirements that may not be easily coordinated.
After a number of years of building partnerships, the UN has learned some of the key elements needed to manage the challenges inherent in public/private partnerships. These include:
• Establishing partnership guidelines - in 2000 the UN published guidelines for working with the private sector.
• Efforts to building linkages at the country level, especially with domestic businesses and labor associations;
• Support for multi-stakeholder dialogues, which can play a critical role in agreeing on boundaries and expectations at the onset of an initiative;
• Improvements to information sharing and enhanced skill building for the UN to mange new types of cooperation with partners; consistent internal communication and coordination is a must.
Public/private partnerships require a balance of idealism and pragmatism, creative vision and managed expectations, pooled resources and a willingness to compromise. But a well executed and monitored partnership will help both business and individuals.
I would like to leave you with the words of a Columbia graduate, renowned anthropologist Margaret Meade, who truly understood the interconnections of human lives: "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world, for, indeed, that's all who ever have."
Thank you.