Partnership Management: The Art of Building Lasting Relationships
Written by Kolawole Oladapo
Imagine a beautiful garden, without proper care — watering, weeding, nurturing — it will eventually wither and die. The same holds true for partnerships. Without effective management, the initial enthusiasm can fade and the potential for joint success can go unrealized. At Tech4Dev, we believe that partnerships are essential for growth, innovation and sustainability. Our Partnerships Engagement Team led by our President and Founder, Joel Ogunsola, is dedicated to cultivating meaningful connections with organizations that share our commitment to positive change in Africa and beyond. We have garnered different partners, such as funding partners, technical support partners, and job placement partners. These partners range from the private and public sector. Some of which include Microsoft, American Towers Corporation (ATC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Lagos State Government, Niger State Government, Sterling Bank, Wema bank amongst others.
So, what does it take to build meaningful partnerships? Here are some of the ways we have achieved this at Tech4Dev:
1. Clear Communication: We start every conversation meeting with the key stakeholders involved. These meetings help us to understand expectations and address concerns promptly. These introductory meetings allow us and our partners to understand the partnership’s purpose. Clear communication is the foundation for our partnership’s relationships and one of the reasons why our bond keeps growing strong with our partners in the public and private sectors.
2. Shared Goals and Values: At Tech4Dev, we believe strongly that lasting partnerships are built on a foundation of common ground. We partner with organizations that share a vision that aligns with our values. For example, our collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), an apex IT agency that fosters innovation and builds a thriving digital ecosystem for all Nigerians proves a shared vision scenario. The agency supports our #DigitalForAll Challenge 2.0 because it is a transformative initiative aimed at tackling Nigeria’s digital skills gap and driving economic growth that resonates deeply with NITDA’s mission.
3. Mutual Benefit: We believe partners should contribute resources, expertise, or opportunities that complement each other’s strengths, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that drives collective success. A clear instance of this is our partnership with Microsoft. We have been an implementing partner with Microsoft for the past 8 years and this partnership continues to grow because we are both interested in creating economic prosperity for Africa’s underserved and under-resourced communities through digital skilling and empowerment. As a technical support and funding partner, Microsoft’s resources have been beneficial for our programs across board.
4. Trust and Reliability: Our partners trust us to deliver, and we consistently demonstrate this trust by sharing accurate reports after every engagement. These reports showcase how we executed our implementation work and provide comprehensive details on activities. Our continued partnerships with Microsoft, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Sterling Bank, Lagos State Government, Edo State Government, and others highlight the trust and reliability we have earned from all partners. This foundation of trust allows our collaboration to flourish as we work seamlessly towards shared goals, fostering open communication, transparency, and a commitment to mutual success. These strong relationships based on trust and reliability make it easy for partners to consistently support our initiatives.
Our partnerships engagement team employs a proactive approach towards enhancing our relationships with our partners. We constantly seek feedback from our partners to understand their evolving needs and expectations through regular communication. For us to increase our impact and ensure sustained growth, we are committed to continuously refining our partnership management processes. We understand that in the dynamic landscape of technological advancement and social development, adaptation and improvement are important.
Conclusion
At Tech4Dev, we view partnerships as essential tools for providing access to digital skilling, empowerment, and financial freedom, which lie at the core of our mission. Our adept management of these partnerships has not only enabled us to reach a broader audience but has also facilitated opportunities for growth, innovation, and positive societal impact. Through our extensive network across 22 African countries, we have directly impacted over 100,000 beneficiaries.
