Partnership is defined as a relationship between diverse players with mutually agreed upon goals carried out through shared work based on each partner's strengths. Key aspects of partnership include reciprocal influence, mutual respect, equal participation in decision making, accountability, and transparency. There are common principles of partnership such as trust, mutuality, solidarity, and accountability. The process of building a partnership involves four main steps - scoping and building, managing and maintaining, reviewing and revising, and sustaining outcomes. Partnership building plays both a formal role in achieving common goals efficiently through organizational systems, and an informal role in contributing to community development agendas.

1. DEFINITION,
STEPS, AND ROLE

2. As a member of a community and the larger society, we live in association
with others. We cannot do things alone; we need others (individuals, groups,
organizations, sectors) to get things done. The reality of the limitations of
resources (human, technical, financial, physical) more especially at the local
communities makes people to naturally partner with others who can supply
what is lacking in them. To appreciate the process of partnership building,
it is important to define the term "partnership."

3. Partnership is a vibrant relationship among diverse players and grounded
on mutually agreed goals, carried out through a shared understanding of the
most rational division of work based on the respective comparative strength
of each partner. It covers reciprocal influence, with a careful balance between
synergy and respective autonomy, which incorporates mutual respect, equal
participation in decision-making, mutual accountability, and transparency.Adapted
from Brinkerhoff, 2002)
In a more specific context, partnership is defined as a key to effective
watershed management due to the involvement of different stakeholders or
partners. Partnerships that are developed and sustained produces (a) more
efficient use of financial resources, (b) a spirit of sharing and cooperation,
(c) fairness which creates more creative and acceptable techniques to shield
natural resources (Farnet, nd).

4. The term partnership is defined differently by various authors. However
we can derive common principles. FAO (2003) captured these values in their
attempt to indicate the principles of partnership, which are trust, mutuality,
solidarity, and accountability.
1. Trust-This principle is the foundation of any partnership. It requires
trust between and among partners in order to enter into an agreement
and a relationship. No good relationship is built on an atmosphere of
distrust. It is the most vital ingredient in forging partnerships since the
relationship requires the element of transparency and accountability.
2. Mutuality-This principle entails reciprocity, respect, and dialogue.
Partnerships require reciprocal relations, where there is give and take
and mutual understanding on various aspects of the relationship. Thus
it also demands openness to dialogue and exchange of perspectives.

5. 3. Solidarity—This principle promotes compassion for the
marginalized,
disadvantaged, and poor. It infers promptness to take action. It takes
all partners to respect commitment and have an equal take on
situations at hand.
4. Accountability—This principle is about rights and obligations. At the
start of partnership, this must be clearly mapped out and agreed
upon by both partners. This part is a reality that may break or make
partnerships.

6. STEPS IN PARTNERSHIP BUILDING
Partnership building is a long process. It necessitates recognition and
acceptance of each partner's assets and flaws. The process is not only long:
it is hard as well. Hence, it requires going through some steps to reduce the
flaws and increase the assets. FAO (nd), based on their experience, provided
four steps in partnership building.

7. Step 1: Scoping and Building-This step comprises four activities:
scoping, identifying, building, and planning.
Scoping: understanding the challenge, gathering information,
consulting with stakeholders and with potential external resource
providers, and building a vision of/for the partnership
Identifying: identifying potential partners and securing their
involvement, motivating them, and encouraging them to work
together
Building: refers to building of partners in working their relationship
through agreeing about the goals, objectives, and core principles
that will underpin the partnership
Planning: the partners' planning of activities and outlining of
projects

8. Step 2: Managing and Maintaining—This step includes
managing,
resourcing, and implementing.
Managing: the partners explore the structure and management
of their partnership
Resourcing: the partners identify and mobilize cash and non-
cash resources
Implementing: the time to implement preagreed time table and
project details and deliverables

9. Step 3: Reviewing and Revising—This is comprised of measuring
performance, reviewing, and revising.
Measuring Performance: measuring and reporting on impact and
effectiveness. This is where outputs and outcomes are measured.
The partners' question is: Are the partnership goals achieved?
Reviewing: the period where you review the partnership. The
partners' questions are: What is the impact of the partnership?
Is it time for some partners to leave? Should roles change?
Revising: partnership programs, and projects are revised based
on achievements or contextual changes

10. Step 4: Sustaining Outcomes—This includes the following:
Institutionalizing—the stage where you build appropriate
structures, mechanisms, and resources for the partnership
to ensure long-term commitment
Sustaining or Terminating—the time where you decide
whether
to sustain or conclude the partnership.

11. Role/FUNCTION OF
PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

12. The role of partnership building can manifest in two ways: formal and
informal. For the formal function, partnerships are necessary to achieve
common goals. The meeting point is the organizational aspect, primarily
on partnership management. Both partners ensure that the organizational
systems and policies are in place. The goal is to reach partnership
objectives
effectively and efficiently.

13. In the context of community development partnership goals, the
partnership is supposed to contribute to the attainment of community
development or advocacy agenda. If one of the partners does not fulfill its
commitment to that advocacy and the partnership contributes negatively
to the advancement of the organizational or community goals, then the
partnership may have to end.