On April 28, 2010 The Resource Foundation (TRF) and The United Nations Office for Partnerships co-hosted a forum on Evaluating the Dynamics of Partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations headquarters. This event brought together 65 corporate and foundation leaders, along with evaluation specialists to discuss the potential, challenges, intricacies and importance of partnerships, particularly as they relate to promoting development activity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

More than 1000 representatives from corporations, NGOs and governments gathered in San Francisco last week for the annual Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) conference.  The long-standing conference covered 4 days this year, beginning with pre-conference trainings on Tuesday and carrying through Friday with a series of keynote speakers, group panels, working sessions, and networking events.  As a rookie attendant, I found the event exhilarating and was particularly enthralled by two sessions that incorporated public-private partnerships.

The Obama Administration has signaled that partnerships are a key component of our foreign policy.   President Obama said in a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative on September 22nd, “Today’s threats demand new partnerships across sectors and across societies—creative collaborations to achieve what no one can accomplish alone.

"...I’m here today to announce that the State Department is opening its doors to a new generation of public-private partnerships. We will expand current partnerships and embark on new ones. We’ll embrace collaboration and become more receptive to the ideas and approaches that you will bring to us. And we want to deploy the full range of tools available..." -Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at the Global Philanthropy Forum (April 22, 2009) Source: US Department of State