How we partner
What we do
The Business Partnerships Platform supports partnerships with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and inclusive businesses to create lasting social impact. Our partnerships offer an opportunity to co-finance, share insights and ideas and tackle the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic together.
Our partnership model
Our approach is to create a strong foundation for working together. We use accredited partnership brokers to help partners create a strong partnership that optimises the value-add for all the partners concerned. On a day-to-day level, partnership brokers provide practical advice and guidance throughout a partnership.
At the outset of the partnership, the partners develop a “Ways of Working Document” facilitated by the partnership broker this is the “how” partners intend to work together.
We then hold regular check-ins and a partnership health check to resolve any issues that may have arisen. A broker can help to surface tension and conflict and work through it in a safe and productive way. This can help to build trust to achieve great outcomes.
Watch to learn more about our partnership model
4 principles for success
Our partnerships follow 4 principles to help achieve great outcomes:
- Equity does not mean equality, but rather a commitment to justice, fairness and even-handedness.
- Transparency means that all BPP partners, including the Australian Government, will be open and honest in their dealings with partners.
- Mutual Benefit recognises that different partners may be involved in projects for different reasons, in addition to helping to achieve their shared goal.
- Diversity recognises that different values, approaches and systems are a strength to the partnership.
Value businesses bring to the Australian Government
Businesses partnering with DFAT through the BPP offer a number of insights and assets such as:
- Business insights and ideas to tackle the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 recovery.
- Private sector efficiencies, innovation and ingenuity.
- Finance to leverage development program funding and private sector resources to achieve greater impact at scale.
What the Australian Government can offer partners
The BPP provides partners with support and access to DFAT support including:
- Catalytic funding to encourage and support businesses and other organisations looking to increase commercial and social returns in line with the Australian development program’s strategic priorities.
- Convening, brokering, networks and influence in partner countries.
- Deep knowledge of development as well as the business, political and regulatory environment in partner countries.
- Expertise in development program management, safeguards, and gender and disability inclusion.
- Support in creating a more attractive business operating environment through its broader policy reform and governance programs
The benefits of working in partnership
Working in partnership can deliver greater results than could otherwise be achieved. Successful partnerships often:
- Help partners to work towards shared objectives.
- Embed the initiative into the core business of the partners.
- Achieve sustainable and measurable development impact.
- Are likely to be sustained and scaled beyond the funding period.
- Result in a deeper and sustained partnership.
If you’d like to find out more about our partnership model and how we support our business partners through the partnership process please contact us at info@thebpp.com.au
