BPD is interested in partnerships for service delivery. These partnerships are typically underpinned by formal mechanisms that bind partners together and help them govern their relationships. Examples of paperwork that supports and reinforces these mechanisms include formal agreements such as Memoranda of Understanding, Letters of Agreement or contracts.
Many partnership practitioners however grapple with introducing such paperwork into their relationships. For instance, should agreements be bilateral or should joint paperwork between multiple partners be developed? What would be the purpose of joint paperwork and how and when should it be negotiated? What guidance is there about when things should be kept informal and when a more formal approach is appropriate?
Through its work with many partnership practitioners worldwide BPD has increasingly felt a need to respond to such questions. While some guidance does exist on formal and informal approaches to partnership and the types of governance that can be introduced, much existing advice only scratches the surface of the issue.
In response BPD started in early 2004 to discuss these matters with partnership practitioners. Lawyers, partnership specialists and water and sanitation practitioners have been brought together to discuss what paperwork can achieve and what is appropriate under which circumstances.
The research is now available to download, or email us to receive a paper copy
BPD would like to thank the Norwegian Trust Fund for Private Sector and Infrastructure and the World Bank for supporting this work.