When appropriate, NGOs may find that cooperation with other civil society organizations, government and intergovernmental agencies, and for- profit corporations may be beneficial in advancing their missionrelated objectives. Such collaboration for common good may reduce duplication of services and eliminate using resources for competitive purposes rather than serving constituencies. Collaboration may allow pairing diverse strengths and resources and promote effectiveness in tackling priorities. However, an NGO may enter into such a relationship only if it is consistent with its mission.

A. General Principles of Partnerships and Collaboration

1. Mission consistency. An NGO should collaborate with other entities only if the relationship is consistent with the mission of the NGO.

2 . Shared values. An NGO should collaborate on the basis of shared values, common ground, and for the good of society.

3. Mutual benefit. An NGO should collaborate on the basis of equitable and genuine mutual benefit to each organization.

4. Transparency. NGO collaboration should allow financial transparency and a two-way flow of information, ideas, and experiences.

5. Adaptive to change. Collaborations should be adaptive to change. Changes in the relationship should be developed through cooperation, and not forced by one or the other organization.

B. Relations With Other NGOs and Civil Society Organizations

1. Common objectives. When appropriate, NGOs with overlapping missions, values, and target groups should partner with each other and civil society organizations when it would be beneficial for the common target groups and for the achievement of common objectives.

2. Competition and service duplication. NGOs with overlapping missions, values, and target
groups should refrain from competing with each other and with other civil society organizations, and should refrain from unnecessary duplication of services and disruption of each other’s projects.

3. Information sharing. NGOs with overlapping missions, values and target groups should share relevant project information with other NGOs and civil society organizations, and mutually support each other.

4. Support for other NGOs. An NGO should express solidarity with campaigns and actions of other NGOs, and promote the effectiveness and success of other NGOs, when it does not compromise the integrity or values of the NGO.

5 . Networking. An NGO should network with other ethical NGOs as a means for promoting the growth, effectiveness and efficiency of the NGO sector and the ability to advance the public good.

C. Relations with Government Agencies and Intergovernmental Bodies

1. NGO objectives and independence. An NGO should enter into a partnership agreement with a government or intergovernmental body only when it is beneficial to achievement of the NGO’s objectives and does not c o m p romise the independence or self-control of the organization.

2. Appropriate and mutually beneficial. An NGO should seek to dialogue and cooperate with government and intergovernmental agencies when such cooperation would be both appropriate and mutually beneficial and could increase the NGO’s effectiveness in dealing with issues and priorities in its agenda.

3 . Mission-led. An NGO should not enter into a partnership with a governmental or intergovernmental body solely to promote the sustainability or competitive advantage
of the NGO independent of achieving its mission objectives.

4 . Political favor. An NGO should not change its policies or non-partisan nature in order to curry political favor.

D. Relations with For-Profit Corporations

1 . NGO objectives and independence. An NGO should enter into collaboration with a for-profit corporation only when it is beneficial to achievement of the NGO’s objectives and does not compromise the independence or self-control of the organization.

2 . Mission-led. An NGO should not enter into collaboration with a for-profit corporation if motivated by financial reasons versus achieving its mission objectives.

3 . Market advantage. An NGO should not enter into collaboration with a for-profit corporation if the main motivation of the corporation is to gain a market advantage over competitors.