Recently at WildTeam I have been having a lot of exciting chats with current and potential partners - so I thought I would write a post on some partnership benefits and how to start forming those partnerships.

Benefits of NGO-NGO conservation partnerships

1. Increased Funding Opportunities:

   • Collaboration allows NGOs to pool resources and access additional funding sources.
   • Joint funding proposals and grant applications have higher chances of success.
   • Donors and funding organizations often prefer collaborative projects with broader impact.

2. Knowledge and Expertise Sharing:

   • NGOs can share their specialized knowledge and expertise with each other.
   • Exchange of best practices and lessons learned leads to improved conservation strategies.
   • Collaboration facilitates capacity building and professional development among NGOs.

3. Amplified Impact:

   • Partnering with other NGOs amplifies the collective impact of conservation efforts.
   • Joint projects enable broader coverage of target areas and species.
   • Shared resources and collaboration lead to more efficient and effective conservation outcomes.

4. Strengthened Advocacy:

• • United voices through NGO partnerships have greater influence in policy advocacy.
  • Collaboration enhances the ability to advocate for conservation-friendly policies and regulations.
  • Joint efforts create a stronger platform for raising awareness and mobilizing public support.

How to form NGO-to-NGO Partnerships:

1. Identify Complementary NGOs:

   • Research and identify NGOs with similar goals and complementary strengths.
   • Look for organizations working in relevant geographic areas or focused on similar species or conservation issues.

2. Establish Common Goals and Objectives:

   • Clearly define shared goals and objectives for the partnership.
   • Ensure alignment of missions, strategies, and values for effective collaboration.

3. Build Trust and Relationships:

   • Foster open and transparent communication with potential partner NGOs.
   • Seek opportunities to engage in informal discussions and establish personal connections.
   • Attend conferences, workshops, and networking events to meet potential partners.

4. Collaborate on Projects:

   • Start with small collaborative projects to build trust and test compatibility.
   • Focus on joint research, field studies, or community engagement initiatives.
   • Define roles, responsibilities, and resource sharing agreements.

5. Seek Funding Together:

   • Identify funding opportunities that support collaborative projects.
   • Develop joint funding proposals highlighting the added value of the partnership.
   • Leverage collective networks and resources to secure funding.

6. Foster Ongoing Communication and Evaluation:

   • Maintain regular communication channels to share progress, challenges, and successes.
   • Conduct regular evaluations to assess the partnership's effectiveness and adjust strategies if needed.
   • Celebrate achievements together and share impact stories to showcase the benefits of collaboration.

Successful NGO-to-NGO partnerships require shared vision, effective communication, and mutual trust. By collaborating with other NGOs, wildlife conservation organizations can leverage each other's strengths, resources, and networks, leading to increased funding opportunities, amplified impact, and stronger advocacy for the conservation of our precious wildlife.

You can find some related guidance in our best practice on Stakeholder Engagement for Wildlife Conservation.

Otherwise, please get in touch if you want to explore how WildTeam could partner with you to help you raise funds and achieve more impact for any capacity building work you are doing.