Thank you for visiting the summary of the Anouska Teunen of Amnesty International Australia and the New Tactics online community discussion on Building strong partnerships and coalitions.
In human rights work, collaboration is crucial. One organization cannot do it alone. They need the resources and skills of others to support a human rights movement. So it is necessary to build partnerships and coalitions to achieve your goals. However, there are many barriers to collaboration. Many human rights organizations have overarching common aims and visions. But, when working together, agreeing on the specific outcomes can be difficult. This can lead to fewer opportunities for partnerships. Making for competition among these groups for campaigning space. Furthermore, finding partners who have the expertise and skills that you need can be challenging (especially when you’re not sure what you need!).
We are lucky to have many organizations that have built strong partnerships. These partnerships help create the impact we want. What tactics are these groups using? How are they overcoming common barriers to build successful coalitions?
This online discussion is an opportunity for human rights defenders to share their experiences, challenges, ideas and advice with one another. This conversation topic is part of our series on Mobilizing Allies.
Benefits and Barriers to Partnerships in Human Rights Work
Partnerships and coalitions are integral to effective human rights advocacy and implementation. They can be more than relationships and dialogue–creating and implementing strategic goals. Coalitions differ from partnerships, tending to be formally structured and publicly oriented. Partnerships do not need to be formal or public knowledge. One definition of a coalition describes it as a “group of diverse organizations and individuals working together to pursue a single goal.”
Principles of Successful Coalitions
- Building an open and trusting relationship
- Mutual respect is vital
- Cooperatively working together as a unified front toward the identified and agreed upon goals
- Regular information sharing mechanisms to maintain communication channels
- Selecting those best suited to provide leadership in specific activities
- Designated staff that monitor the effective use and impact of funds
Building Strong Alliances
Participants agree that clarifying the goals and values of alliances is important at the outset. Additionally, establishing trust and open communication enriches partnerships.
Creating these relationships helps further human rights goals, bringing a diverse array of actors to the table. Often, organizations will partner with experts to enrich their understanding of an issue such as climate change. Using interdisciplinary allies (government agencies, community organizations, businesses, etc) facilitates a broader audience. This is important when creating a campaigns like ‘End FGM Now’ or ‘Divest from Israel.’
Overcoming Partnership Challenges
Several challenges face partnerships and alliances. Challenges include working with non-traditional partners, such as police and business organizations. Another challenge is coordinating between international and national human rights organizations. Additionally, framing issues can be difficult, and language barriers often arise. Funding can also be a contentious issue, leading to difficulties in project implementation.
These challenges can be overcome by strategies like establishing regular meeting times. This keeps members in the coalition aware of future plans. Additionally it is important to communicate clearly and openly, and set a framework guiding dialogue. Also, clearly defining strategic goals and the limits of the coalition’s actions will improve its success.
What do successful partnerships and coalitions look like?
Conversation participants shared various examples of successful coalitions and partnerships. See the list of tactic examples above for specific examples. Here are some of the tools these partnerships found helpful.
Create a strong yet flexible structure
- The structure has to create appropriate opportunities for the group members to take part.
- The process of decision making has to show solutions to controversies and avoid divisions and ruptures.
- Clarity in the conditions or criteria of membership in the coalition is necessary.
- Leadership and internal mechanisms must be flexable. Allowing the space to negotiate controversial topics.
- The coalition’s limits and scope of action must be defined, under the mandates agreed upon by the members.
When dealing with conflict within the coalition
- Identify the problem
- Map-out potential allies
- Ask: What is the end-goal?
- Select individuals to take part in discussion based on their trust and cooperation
- Types of Allies
When engaging experts as allies, use them in key positions. For example, researching legislation or providing expert research information on environmental issues. It is also important to partner with non traditional allies and create a spectrum of allies to target future partners.
Lessons Learned
Forging partnerships and coalitions is the core of human rights work. With partnerships, human rights organizations expand their capacity. They develop a stronger, more effective movement. Ultimately moving closer towards deep, systematic changes. Transparent goals, open communication and productive dialogue can help overcome challenges. Making partnership more productive and leading to a stronger coalition.
Tactical Examples Shared in the Conversation
- The Center for Reproductive Rights partnered with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. They did a story collection and human rights advocacy project about women’s access to reproductive healthcare. This partnership illustrates how those experiencing human rights violations can be the ones directing the strategy.
- CESR partnered with the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR). They prepared a shadow report for Egypt’s review by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The report demonstrated partnerships between international and national human rights organizations.
- Peru’s Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos implemented a clear structure, clarified their goals and scope, and created a space for productive dialogue, creating a successful coalition of human rights organizations in Peru.
- Ligue des Droits de la Personne dans la Region des Grands Lacs (LDGL) adopted a multi-faceted strategy. This strategy aimed to encourage productive dialogue and problem-solving within their coalition. It also considered language barriers that had created divisions.
- North Quabbin Community Coalition worked with a community psychologist who helped to build a coalition of community groups and leaders. They tackled issues of hunger, homelessness and job loss. They showed the benefits of overcoming difficulties and working together. Especially with a diverse group of organizations.
- East Quabbin Alliance (EQUAL) exemplifies a coalition built to make long-term improvements in a local community. EQUAL demonstrates how to build leadership, create an agenda and keep to that agenda in times of crisis.
- The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) worked successfully with experts to preserve the right of the Jordanian people to access public beaches. They were able to work with a coalition of experts and not “be the expert.”
- In 2008 and 2009 the Center for Economic and Social Rights conducted an interdisciplinary research and advocacy project on the right to health, food and education. They did so in partnership with Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales (ICEFI). Their partnership highlighted the productive partnerships between human rights organizations and non-traditional organizations.
- Citizens’ Watch, a Russian nongovernmental organization, used a collaborative tactic to engage governmental officials who are traditionally viewed as adversaries.
- Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR) developed a partnership with government run, local level community centers. They installed a human rights education curriculum for women in Turkey.
Shared Resources
Articles and websites
Vidoes
Worksheets
- Training for Change: Create your own Spectrum of Allies
- New Tactics: Adapted spectrum of allies worksheet
- Power in Coalition: Expression of Solidarity
New Tactics Case Studies
- The Peru’s Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (National Coordinating Coalition on Human Rights)
- Ligue des Droits de la Personne dans la Region des Grands Lacs (Human Rights League of the Great Lakes Region, or LDGL): Identifying allies to hold constructive dialogue and maintain cooperative relationships
- Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS): Building a coalition to preserve the right to public access
