Building Partnerships
Strengthening collaboration in large-scale restoration projects.
Strong, trusting relationships are at the heart of successful restoration. Delivering work at the scale of whole landscapes and seascapes depends on partners who can collaborate effectively across organisations, sectors and communities.
This project explored what makes partnerships succeed and how individuals and organisations can work better together. The findings informed a practical toolkit that helps restoration teams build, manage and strengthen partnerships from start to finish.
What the project did
Researchers from RSPB and Warwick Business School studied partnerships within Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme projects to understand what drives collaboration and what causes tension. They examined how organisational relationships, team culture and individual behaviours influence success.
The results informed a toolkit that supports every stage of partnership development. It helps restoration teams identify strong collaborators, establish clear working relationships and strengthen the interpersonal skills that make partnerships last. Funders can also use the tools to assess whether proposed partnerships are likely to succeed.
Using the tools
1. Quick guide: How to use the building partnerships tools
A simple overview showing which tools to use at each stage of a partnership, whether you are forming new collaborations, improving team dynamics or reviewing completed projects.
How to use the building partnerships for landscape-scale conservation tools
2. Collaborative partnership tool and guidance
Identify potential partners, set up collaborations and plan how to work together effectively. The accompanying guidance provides a step-by-step process for using the tool and tailoring it to your project.
Partnership development tool
Identifying and developing collaborative partnerships
3. Individual behaviour assessment tool and framework
Assess and strengthen the behaviours and competencies that underpin strong partnerships, such as communication, trust-building and collaboration. The framework explains how to apply the assessment within teams to identify strengths and development needs.
Individual behaviour assessment tool
Guidance: Individual behavioural assessment tool
Can Europe produce enough native oysters for restoration?
Building nature-positive economies through partnership in Kakheti and Sakar
New guidance helps local leaders plan for human–wildlife coexistence
