| A Public-Private Partnership: That’s the Real Deal |
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Much has been said about the importance of public-private partnerships, do they work? Are big businesses really in it only for profit? Are NGOs in it solely for funding? Often we only hear about these relationships when they break down. That’s why it is such a gratifying experience to attend the Global Business Coalition’s (GBC) Awards for Business Excellence, which honors businesses for their demonstrated commitment and success in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. “We can do more working together than working in isolation” is the overarching message of the GBC and the companies recognized with their awards serve as beacons to other multinational corporations looking to better the environments in which they operate.
On 9 June, m2m’s Robin Smalley and Mitch Besser attended the 2008 GBC gala event, held in New York City, where Johnson & Johnson was a recipient in the Women & Girls category based on the success of their partnership with m2m. A rewarding relationship that began in 2005, it serves as a model of public-private partnerships, benefiting not only each other but the communities in which they serve. It is a liaison that has grown and evolved through the years, from J&J’s support of two m2m sites in East London, South Africa, to their efforts in providing service to over 7500 women throughout South Africa. As with most successful partnerships, this one goes well beyond a simple transaction. “Johnson & Johnson has provided support in program development and has helped us develop active monitoring and evaluation systems to link with how we develop in the future, they are interested in the process, not just the outcome,” says Besser. According to Robin Smalley: “J&J is unique in that they really care about our overall success, working with us as partners in every sense of the word, to develop better systems and operations.” For mothers2mothers , this is one of our many partnerships that exemplifies everything a public-private partnership should be. To see photos from the event, click here For more on the GBC Awards, go to www.gbcimpact.org |