Development of partnership and cooperation to counteract social exclusion phenomena. To start… why partnership?

Abstract

It is easy to speak about partnership, but it is much more difficult to live it. Lately, partnership has become a strong element of our reality. The word partnership has become very fashionable and popular. It has many meanings and it includes various relationships, connections, networks and types of organisations. The idea of intersectoral partnership within the framework of which authorities representing units of local government, economic entities and third sector organisations cooperate to solve complex local and regional problems is winning many supporters. Partnerships are initiated by companies, nongovernmental organisations or public institutions and act at a local, regional, national or global level. Intersectoral cooperation rarely becomes an easy and quick solution to problems. Partnership undertakings require determination, perseverance and courage. Each party brings different experiences and skills thanks to which intersectoral co-operation can become sustainable, efficient and effective in a condition that it will be properly designed and managed. In Poland, favourable conditions for the idea of intersectoral partnership developed after 1989. There are various reasons for the creation and functioning of this form of cooperation resulting mainly from the development of a citizen society in the 1980s and 1990s and further social and political transformation. Increasing liabilities of the public finance sector resulting in searching for alternative financial resources and an implementation of patterns adopted in other European countries became further impulses for changes.