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MENA NWC Update
A Roadmap for Building Partnerships with
Businesses in the Middle East
FABRI’s Private Sector
Outreach Advisor, Razan
Quossous recommends
“before initiating a
partnership building activity
with the private sector, first
identify the strategic
rationale for including the
private sector in your
programs.” To start,
Centers should answer a
number of questions which
will help guide how the
private sector partner can
be integrated into their
activities:
For more information on the
MENA NWC, please contact:
John Wilson
Bureau for the Middle East
USAID
+ 1 202 712 4633
[email protected]
Peter Reiss
Chief of Party
FABRI
+ 1 202 549 1387
[email protected]
• What is the basis for the
partnership?
• Is the partnership
appropriate for the
activity?
• What are the areas of
interest that the private
sector may have in the
activity?
• What is the value
proposition for the private
sector from the
partnership?
• What kind of resources
might be leveraged?
• What does the Center
hope to achieve with the
partnership?
• What specific program
goals would not be
achievable without a
partnership?
Before going to the first
meeting with a private
sector partner, Centers
Photo courtesy of ACWUA
A strategic objective of the
Network is to create lasting
partnerships between
Network Centers and the
private sector. Yet, this
remains a challenge for many
research institutions in the
Middle East and elsewhere.
should complete initial
research to understand
activities, and become
familiar with the projects
that the partner has
implemented. This research
is critical to being able to
understanding the partner’s
business challenges and
identifying common areas of
interest and how they relate
to MENA NWC program
activities.
When it is time for the first
meeting, it is important that
the first interaction be
structured with a clear
agenda. Centers should
avoid starting the
conversation by asking for a
cash contribution for its
program, but rather use the
meeting to jointly identify
opportunities for mutual
collaboration. Before leaving,
or soon after the meeting is
over, arrange a follow-up
meeting to discuss any
specific partnership
possibilities that emerged.
Arrange for a follow-up
meeting to discuss any
specific partnership
possibilities that emerged.
A successful partnership
with the private sector is
reflected in:
• Clearly defined goals and
objectives;
• Creating a value
proposition to partners;
• Commitment of all
partners to achieving the
set goals
• Effective leadership to
facilitate communication
and establish trust
among partners; and,
• Reward and recognition
of the individual partners
according to their
contribution to the
partnership.