Addressing environmental issues is becoming increasingly important for businesses and NGOs. In addition, through the internationalisation of these organisations, the problem is becoming global. To address environmental issues in an effective way, there is a need to form a cross-sector collaboration between NGOs and businesses. Thus, to have a successful collaboration, it is important to search for suitable partners. This thesis investigates the partner search process of NGOs for cross-sector collaboration. It investigates how the process of partner search with regard to drivers for collaboration, formation typology, success factors compatibility, resources, and capability, as well as trust affect the partner search of three NGOs with different internationalisation degrees. A literature review has been conducted to investigate what has been discussed regarding the key concepts: environment, internationalisation degree, partner search, formation, drivers, and success factors. The resulted conceptual framework is used to analyse the empirical data. The study was conducted following an abductive approach since existing literature is only existent on firm-perspective so far. To investigate the NGO´s partner search for potential business partners, the thesis follows qualitative research where semi-structured interviews were conducted to create three single cases. The cases represent three internationalisation degrees, namely local NGO, regional NGO, and international NGO. The analysis discusses the differences and similarities between the empirical findings and the theoretical findings. The conclusion suggests that the internationalisation degree influences the partner search process slightly in every key concept. This is mainly due to the interdependence between each concept, which challenges a clear distinction. Nevertheless, the main implication for theory is the contribution to the so-far missing NGO perspective on the partner search in cross-sector collaboration. This thesis also provides practical implications where it appeals for NGOs to clearly understand the intention of the business partner for the collaboration and build trust. The study concludes with limitations and future research implications.

This study aims to investigate how cross-sector collaborations facilitate social development stemming from weapon destruction programmes that address peacebuilding and the enhancing of human security (socio-economic and political security) in regions afflicted with armed violence. The authors aim to contribute to the literature by demonstrating the viability of previous theoretical methods on designing and implementing a cross-sector collaboration. The research entails a case-study of the HM initiative, a combined effort between three NGO’s from Sweden and El Salvador that involves melting down seized illegal weapons and repurposing them into valuable products for consumers, to ultimately bring about social development in the conflict-prone communities in El Salvador. Through interviews with the involved actors of the NGO’s and documentation of the initiative, this study focuses on the formation of a cross-sector collaboration, the building of internal and external legitimacy by NGO-business partnerships, and the practices that aim to assess public value creation. This study provides insights on antecedent and linking conditions for the formation of a cross-sector collaboration, collaborative processes and structures that foster trusting relationships with both partners and stakeholders, and an implemented accountability framework for the measurement of public value creation. The researchers close with a discussion of further suggestions for relevant research.

The growing importance to finding workable solutions to the problem of unsustainable and inefficient resource use cannot be overstated.  In the world facing one of its critical sustainability periods, efficient resource utilization to ensure sustainable development is a problem policymakers should grapple with at a loc, regional and local levels. Because of this, the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus has seen a growing number of proponents and supporters worldwide.  This thesis examines the WEFE nexus and its relevance for sustainable resource management, focusing on South Africa’s Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA).  WEFE nexus criticizes existing sector-based approaches for their limited recognition of cross-sectoral linkages.  This thesis presents a systematic review of the WEFE nexus in the IUWMA, identifying policy gaps and making recommendations to enhance integrated resource and environmental management based on the WEFE nexus approach.  The findings highlight various factors affecting energy generation, agriculture, water quality and quantity, and ecosystem-related factors within the IUWMA.  The thesis also provides an overview of critical policies related to the WEFE nexus in the IUWMA, demonstrating coherence (or lack thereof) and environmental considerations, and international cooperation.  The implementation of the WEFE nexus policy faces opportunities in collaboration but challenges such as institutional barriers, knowledge gaps, and limited political will.  The IUWMA also presents a complicated case owing to its transboundary nature, to which special attention must be paid when considering WEFE nexus approaches.  The discussion emphasizes the need for a holistic WEFE nexus approach to avoid inefficiencies and conflicts and calls for strong governance structures and equitable resource allocation.  Implementing the WEFE nexus approach can foster collaboration, sustainable resource management, land resilience to climate change impacts with political support, regional cooperation, and stakeholder engagement.

Educational collaborative networks (ECNs), as instruments for achieving educational goals through the integration of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have become frequent elements of public education worldwide. Despite their contribution of additional resources to the education enterprise, the roles of philanthropic foundations in ECNs are particularly controversial. Research suggests that leaders of ECNs such as policy makers, administrators, and school principals design and coordinate governance structures to guide participants’ behaviour. However, the importance of governance design and coordination in ECNs for governing philanthropic roles is yet to be systematically analysed. This article centres on the relationship between the design and coordination of governance boards and role-related participation of philanthropic foundations. A mixed methods design is implemented based on secondary analysis of a German large-scale standardised survey and an in-depth case study conducted in a south German municipality. Results confirm that leaders of ECNs impact philanthropic engagement via the design and coordination of governance boards. Participation in ECNs can take on diverse roles of representing particular interests, pursuing innovation, or providing services and are explained by underlying governance-related mechanisms. Identified associations within governance boards and role-related participation of philanthropic foundations in ECNs offer valuable insights for leadership in education.

Municipal and regional actors, and in particular their respective governments, have key roles to play for society’s transition to sustainability, and many good efforts have been made. However, co-creating sustainable visions and effective governance towards such visions is a complex challenge and an overarching systems perspective is often lacking in the decision making. This is an often-forgotten piece in the sustainability discourse, which risks leading to ’solutions’ in one area that cause problems in another area. This, in turn, risks leading to unnecessary goal-conflicts, sub-optimizations, and slow progress. Despite good insights and actions on sub-parts of the sustainability challenge, capacity to coordinate efforts across sectors is generally missing. The overarching aim of this work was therefore to explore how practitioners, not the least leaders, in municipalities and regions can be sufficiently supported in their missions to enhance cross-sectoral strategic work for sustainability. The overall pursuit of this aim was undertaken through an action research approach with seven Swedish municipalities, two Swedish regions and one Finnish region. Initially, practitioners’ perspectives of what hinders effective sustainability transitions in their municipalities or regions were investigated through focus group discussions. In addition to many specific, context dependent barriers, a prevailing blindness to barriers that are directly linked to a lack of a sufficiently large systems perspective was found. Most of the action research was about testing an existing preliminary implementation model for multi-stakeholder co-creation and co-learning for strategic sustainable development. The model was evaluated in terms of strengths, weaknesses, barriers and enablers through observations, dialogues, round table discussions and a survey. The preliminary implementation model was generally appreciated by practitioners and was generally considered to fill its purpose. However, a need for additional support was pointed out, to assist continued work with the model in the absence of external expert facilitators. A key element of the asked-for support was ways to involve and engage top leaders into active participation already upfront. An approach to achieve this was explored in one of the participating municipalities. This included an initial assessment of current work and existing steering systems and their alignment with the preliminary implementation model, followed by a focus group discussion with political and administrative leaders. In combination with a comprehensive understanding of barriers to effective sustainability transitions, the result from the testing of the preliminary implementation model and the approach to engaging leaders have laid a foundation for methodological support for cross-sectoral municipal and regional strategic work for sustainability.

Introdução: Em maio de 2016, o CAPS Infantojuvenil II Campo Limpo deu início a um espaço de Matriciamento especifico para escolas. A meta fora a de favorecer a aproximação dos núcleos de saúde mental e de educação. Nesse âmbito promoveramse reuniões mensais para conversar sobre os casos, matriculados nas escolas da região, que eram atendidos no serviço, dando origem ao que se constituiu como o Programa EduAção. Ao longo desse processo, surgiu então a necessidade de avaliar se esse espaço havia se tornado um lugar de formação permanente para os educadores, o que veio então a se constituir como objeto de interesse da presente investigação. Objetivo: analisar a formação permanente de professores no âmbito de um programa desenvolvido em um equipamento de saúde mental infantojuvenil, visando a integração saúde mental e educação: o Programa EducAção. Métodos: Por meio de grupos focais, convidamos os professores que frequentaram as reuniões do referido programa a participar da avaliação. Para o tratamento analítico dos dados foi utilizado o método de análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: foi possível constatar que o espaço foi considerado como um lugar de formação permanente. Entretanto, a análise propiciou o entendimento além daquele pretendido no escopo do trabalho, posto que se percebeu que o espaço estudado transcendeu seu objetivo inicial assumindo também a função de um lugar de cuidado, escuta e acolhimento para os professores. Por se sentirem cuidados pela equipe do CAPSij, os professores foram capazes de cuidar, ouvir e significar o sofrimento de crianças e jovens que tinham em seu percurso escolar, repetidas experiências ligadas às dificuldades de aprendizagem, socialização ou interação, apresentando sofrimento psíquico grave, e por isso, serem acompanhadas no CAPSij. Conclusão: com esse estudo pudemos concluir que os educadores que se vêem frente a situações desafiadoras em seu cotidiano demandam troca de informação com os alunos que são atendidos no CAPSij, e também de referências a respeito dos transtornos mentais, autismo, déficit de atenção, etc. Contudo, notamos que para além dos dados, os professores precisam de um lugar que acolha o seu sofrimento. Sofrimento esse relacionado a ter em suas mãos uma sala com muitos estudantes que, em decorrência de suas dificuldades específicas, não prestam atenção; violam as regras; não obedecem, não aprendem. Em face disso, eles demandam cuidado para conseguirem cuidar. Precisam ser incluídos para favorecer espaços inclusivos. Podemos assim dizer que o espaço se revelou como um lugar que, além de estimular o encontro entre as equipes de saúde mental e educação, constituiu em si um trabalho intersetorial em prol da saúde mental infantojuvenil, ações compartilhadas que consideram os dois lados, o do aluno e o do professor. Faz-se necessário escutar os professores para que eles possam escutar seus alunos. / Introduction: In May 2016, the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS) for Children and Adolescents II opened an area of specified matrix support for public schools located in the district of Campo Limpo, in the city of São Paulo. The aim was to bring the health units close to educational programs. Frequent monthly meetings were held to discuss cases related to individuals enrolled in the schools and who used the service. The discussion of the cases gave rise to the EducAction Program. During this process, there was a need to assess if this space became a place of permanent education for educators, which became the object of interest of the present study. Objective: To analyze the permanent education of teachers in a program developed in children\'s mental health and education: the EducAction Program. Methods: Through focal groups, we invited the teachers who attended the program\'s monthly meetings to join the assessment. The thematic content analysis method was used for the analytical treatment of the data. Results: According to the results, it was concluded the space is a place for permanent teacher education. In contrast, the analysis of the study provided the knowledge beyond the one intended in its scope, because the study honed the initial aim of providing care, attention, and hospitality extended to teachers. As teachers felt they were cared by the CAPS team, they were able to care, listen and understand the children and youngster\'s suffering. During their school life, these children had repeated experiences related to the difficulties of learning, socialization or interaction, consequently developing severe mental stress. For this reason, the CAPS team monitored them. Conclusion: According to the results, we conclude the teachers face up different challenging situations that require constant information sharing between the students attended at CAPS. The teachers also need appropriate knowledge of mental disorders (attention deficit, autism, etc.). Yet, we have noticed teachers need a place that accommodates their suffering. The teacher\'s suffering is connected to the huge responsibility of taking caring of children who very often do not pay attention, do not learn and break the rules. As a result, teachers need to be cared for caring for others. They have to be included to improve inclusive spaces. We can say that this space stimulates the meeting between mental health and education teams, and has been an intersectoral work in favor of children\'s mental health and shared actions that consider the student and the teacher. Consequently, it is important to listen to the teachers so that they can take care of their students.

Despite the growing consensus on the importance of an extended responsibility for business, both the conceptual and practical understanding of “corporate responsibility” has remained limited. Corporate responsibility is still often understood as an add-on to business-as-usual or as a strategy to enhance business performance. In fact, in recent years, the concept of corporate responsibility has become associated with corporate deceit instead of corporate contributions to society, and tends to engender cynicism rather than a sense of hope. In this study I sought to explore a more hopeful and more “radical” conceptualisation of corporate responsibility. By looking at an international sample of “exemplary” values-driven businesses, this study provides insight into corporate responsibility not primarily as a means towards commercial ends but as an expression of a desire to “do good” and create social and/or environmental value. This study paints a picture of the rich, responsible reality of values-driven businesses. It describes their generous, human-centred approach to employees and the internal environment. It explores their deep sense of interdependence with the wider community in which they find themselves, and their extensive engagement with a wide variety of external parties, many of which are not “naturally” connected to business. It creates an understanding of the iterative, emerging and evolutionary nature of the CSR implementation process and the inherent impermanence of CSR “solutions”. While this study gives a comprehensive insight into various, generous and progressive practices, it shows that the essence of a “responsible existence” is not the implementation of certain practices alone, but relates to the willingness and ability to continuously question the established ways and practices of business in light of the higher business aspirations, which, for many, leads to a fundamentally different way of organising, managing and governing the business. At the same time, this study does not provide a glorified account of some kind of “utopian” responsible existence. Instead, it shows the “messy” reality of trying to implement social and environmental values, while faced with multiple demands and when embedded within a social and business context that does not necessarily hold the same values. The thesis describes the various conflicts and compromises related to the implementation of multiple, conflicting commitments and demands, and the different ways in which the sample businesses approach such situations. While the sample businesses are quite capable of gracefully navigating these conflicts in creative and pragmatic ways, the research also indicates that significant compromises are seemingly inevitable, and can, almost imperceptibly, move a company away from its envisaged values and commitments. Finally, this study argues that the currently dominant approach to corporate responsibility in organisational studies, which reflects a rationalised and economic perspective on CSR and business, will be insufficient to describe the rich reality found within these businesses, as it will edit out some of its most essential elements. I conclude this dissertation by proposing an alternative, human existential lens through which corporate responsibility in values-driven businesses can be understood. Through a review of the research findings in relation to three existential themes, I show that a human existential perspective is better suited to explore both the beauty and the struggle of values-driven businesses.

The challenges we face as a nation are complex and recalcitrant; to address them, we need to be equipped with multifaceted and resilient solutions. Yet, substantial pressures – such as significant fiscal constraints, growing citizen expectations, and the rapid pace of technology – prevent the U.S. Government from efficiently and effectively solving the nation’s ills alone. The public, private, and nonprofit sectors must partner and collaborate to create lasting social change and the best solutions to address our nation’s most pressing social issues lie in the power of social innovation. Drawing from nearly thirty years of scholarship, the views of leading experts in the field of social innovation, and three case studies of social innovation offices in the United States, this paper addresses the case for social innovation in the United States by answering four key questions: what is social innovation; why does the U.S. need it; what has the U.S. government done to support social innovation; and what is the future of social innovation in this United States.

There is an increasing acknowledgement in Eco-municipalities – cities using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) as a tool for their planning process – of the need for Cross-Sector Collaboration, but the necessary expertise is often lacking. The purpose of this study is to better understand effective CSC in Eco-municipalities through indicating potential leverage points and inform the use of the FSSD in this specific context. An 'effective CSC' lens is constructed from general CSC literature and documents from Eco-municipalities. 187 barriers and enablers to effective cross-sector collaboration are identified from interviews with experts and interviews from the In-depth Case Study in the city of Eindhoven. An 'Importance Index' defined by alignment with Lens Factors is developed to select key indicators. These key indicators are clustered into 45 potential leverage points for effective CSC in Eco-municipalities. The use of these potential leverage points is checked in an In-depth Case Study through a Causal Loop Diagram in which nine leverage points were identified. Interrelations between these leverage points, unexpected results and methodology are discussed, conclusions are drawn, and further research is suggested.

Today, global socio-ecological problems are too complex and urgent for isolated actions, and cross-sector collaboration is increasingly required to generate transformational change towards a sustainable future. Partnerships between businesses and civil society organisations (CSOs) in particular have the potential to achieve the required change for sustainability. However, the ‘backcasting’ approach used in this study highlights a gap between current approaches and what partnerships might look like in a sustainable future. Research draws on literature, eighteen interviews and an action research project with Interface Europe. Results indicate that: 1) in the current paradigm shift, collaboration provides a competitive advantage; 2) individual, organisational and societal benefits of partnering are significant; 3) understanding the art and science of partnering is needed to make them work 4) organisational development and strategy affect partnership type and outcomes; 5) Corporate Social Responsibility efforts initiate cross-sector partnerships, but are responsive and fall short of being strategic; 6) articulation of visions for a sustainable future is rare and; 7) most partnerships are not aligned with core business strategies. In conclusion, dialogue across all sectors is advocated to co-create a sustainable future and The Natural Step Framework is recommended to align business planning and partnership strategies with sustainability. / <p>Andrew Outhwaite (arouthwaite@gmail.com) Miriam Karell (jazzminq@gmail.com) Richard Blume (rblume@gmail.com) Website http://partnerships4SSD.blogspot.com</p>