Maximizing the Power of Localized Co-Creation in Multistakeholder Partnerships
In December, I had the opportunity to attend the Global Washington Goalmakers Conference, a premier gathering of organizations and individuals working on international solutions from across the Pacific Northwest. The theme of the conference, co-creation and partnerships as a means of solving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligned perfectly to SDG-17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and much of the work I’ve done over the last 20 years.
The global challenges we face, including the ongoing pandemic, poverty, and inequality, have become increasingly complex, requiring cross-sector collaboration for effective solutions. As I’ve previously discussed, the public sector, NGOs, and private companies each bring unique resources and expertise that can be combined to create impactful solutions. However, the real key to successful multistakeholder partnerships lies in the inclusion of local communities, as they hold the unique perspectives and voices necessary for localized co-creation.
Localized co-creation refers to a process where stakeholders work together to design, create, and implement solutions with the active participation of local communities. This ensures that solutions are tailored to the specific needs and context of the local area, leading to a greater sense of ownership and investment, and ultimately, a higher likelihood of success.
Since the conference, I’ve been reflecting on a partnership workshop that I co-led with a Ghanaian colleague several years ago in Accra, with members of the fishing community, the government, a mobile operator, NGOs, and community groups. The inclusion of local voices was critical to proposing a partnership to support the sustainable fishing program, as I quickly learned about the complexities of the coastal fishing supply chain and the livelihoods dependent upon it.
While localized co-creation may not always be the right approach to building a solution, it offers three main benefits.
First, it amplifies local knowledge and expertise. Communities have a wealth of knowledge and experiences that can greatly contribute to the development of effective solutions. For example, local farmers may have practical knowledge and insight into the best ways to increase crop yields and adapt to the changing climate. By including this knowledge in the co-creation process, solutions can be more effective and relevant to the local context.
During the conference, several speakers and panelists echoed this sentiment, including Hilda Nakabuya, who emphasized the importance of organizations understanding their local environment and acknowledging the challenges faced by communities. Hilda's student-run organization, Fridays for Future Uganda, inspired by Greta Thunberg, is working with local women to collect waste, dry it, and make biodegradable briquettes, providing clean, healthy, and sustainable income that allows women to keep their children in school.
Second, a localized co-creation process helps to build trust and bridge gaps in understanding between stakeholders. When communities feel that their voices and perspectives are being heard, they are more likely to support and be invested in the solutions being implemented. This increased level of trust and engagement can lead to improved outcomes and sustainability.
Finally, multistakeholder partnerships can often perpetuate power imbalances, with certain sectors dominating the decision-making process. By including the voices and perspectives of local communities, power dynamics can be balanced, and solutions can be developed that are inclusive, sustainable, and equitable.
Here are four tips on how to effectively plan for a local co-creation session, based on my own experience and learnings from the conference:
Put your ego and logo aside. While it’s important to understand what your organization wants to get out of a co-creation process, don’t assume that what you bring to the table, or your own perspective, will be useful to people who are living in their own contexts every day. Be open to shifting your perspective to build a successful, locally driven partnership.
Clearly define the goals. This sounds obvious, but I’ve led too many partnership development sessions where organization simply talk past each other, without understanding what the overall objective is. This means putting organizational objectives aside for the greater good of the partnership, then deciding whether there’s a clear path forward.
Understand the power dynamics in the room. What are the expectations of everyone and each group that they represent? Are there Western aid organizations, government officials, or others who may have real or perceived disproportionate power? As a facilitator or meeting organizer, set the expectations early that all voices and perspectives are valuable, and work hard to draw out voices that might otherwise be marginalized in the conversation.
Set the stage with authenticity and empathy. This is true of so many aspects of our work life, but is especially important when working with local community members. Bring your true self to the conversation and remain humble enough to see other perspectives, take them into account, and find ways to incorporate them into a solution.
When used well, localized co-creation is a powerful tool in multistakeholder partnerships. By involving local communities in the solution development process, solutions can be better tailored to the local context, build trust and engagement, amplify local knowledge and expertise, and address power imbalances. To effectively address global challenges, it's essential that we move beyond traditional multistakeholder partnerships and incorporate localized co-creation as a key component of cross-sector collaboration.