US State Department Celebrates Collaboration

By Andrew O'Brien, Special Representative, Global Partnerships

US State Department Celebrates Collaboration
By Andrew O’Brien, Special Representative, Global Partnerships

The word “partnership” seems to be everywhere these days — and the U.S. Department of State is proud to be at the center of it. While public-private partnerships (P3s) have been around for years, they are increasingly becoming a primary way to achieve our objectives in diplomacy and development. While the government has traditionally used P3s in building up infrastructure such as roads and bridges, we are increasingly turning to them as a model for social issues, from reducing poverty to combating climate change.

It is precisely to highlight the important tool of partnerships that the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships is organizing the Department’s annual Global Partnerships Week (GPW) next week from March 7-13, along with partners at the U.S. Global Development Lab at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Concordia, and PeaceTech Lab. Held each March, GPW encourages the creative collaboration needed to tackle global challenges, while promoting innovation and recognizing the achievements of existing partnerships of all kinds.

Deputy Special Representative Thomas Debass moderates a panel at the 2015 Global Partnerships Practitioners Conference [State Department Photo]

The week will kick off with a Global Partnerships Practitioners Forum here in Washington, which brings practitioners from the government, private sector, and non-profit organizations together to discuss best practices and common challenges in building partnerships, from managing relationships to engaging new partners.

This year, there are more than 20 other registered events being held around the world as part of GPW. Ranging from large-scale conferences and panels to smaller networking gatherings and online events, these events connect new audiences to explore opportunities to create global change. 2016 events include two webinars organized by the International diaspora Engagement Alliance, a Youth Economic Forum in Sierra Leone focusing on how partnerships can enhance youth economic empowerment in the country, a State Department Twitter Q&A on sustainable fishing and the upcoming Fishackathon, a film screening of “America’s Diplomats,” and more.

During GPW, the third annual State of Global Partnerships report will also be released, highlighting the work of the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships and more than ten innovative partnerships across the State Department. This week, the third annual State of Global Partnerships report will also be released, highlighting the work of the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships and more than ten innovative partnerships across the State Department.

We look forward to seeing what partnerships emerge from this year’s GPW and we encourage you to find a GPW event near you. You can also share your partnerships and collaboration stories by tweeting at @GPatState and #GPW2016.

Editor’s Note:

This article first appeared on www.p3.co and is reproduced with permission.

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