| The term "partnership" has become a mantra of this decade in the discussion of government-NGO (Non Government Organization) relations in social sector development, including education. With its assumed ability to promote complementarity and cost-efficiency and its intuitively positive connotation, partnership has been increasingly in vogue in policy debate. For government-NGO partnerships in particular, the belief is that the comparative advantages of two sides are complementary, and together they can achieve a synergistic effect that either alone could not accomplish. It is necessary, however, to go beyond assumptions and analyze the nature and contextual conditions of the partnership building process in reality.; This research investigates the actual process of government-NGO partnership building in the education sector of Bangladesh. A qualitative research design triangulating in-depth interviews, observation, and the analysis of key documents delineates the complexity and evolution of the partnership building process. Specifically, the study examines the government-NGO collaboration, "Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Children Project" in light of the key elements identified in previous academic research. These elements include motivations for the partnership, understanding the objectives, management of the partnership, accountability, institutional capacity of the actors, mutual trust, and communication patterns.; Partnership building encounters problems and dilemmas that arise from what is necessarily a dynamic and constantly evolving process. Any partnership building is vulnerable to falling into the ritualistic mode at almost any juncture in its lifetime. The dynamism arises partly because neither the government nor NGO is a monolithic actor with simple motivations, and partly because of their historically intricate relations. In addition, the institutional capacities of government and NGOs are often much weaker than assumed in the policy literature on partnership. The researcher develops models of constructive and ritual partnerships to highlight characteristics of the partnership building process. The potential and pitfalls of partnership, which are often two sides of the same coin, are also presented. Partnership building requires continual negotiation, navigation, and adaptation in order to minimize its pitfalls while maximizing its potential, thereby leading to a more constructive partnership. |
