Cambridge
Academy
In London

Introduction

Strong partnerships accelerate growth, expand reach, and improve service delivery—but only when they are well-chosen, well-structured, and actively managed. This practical program builds core skills in identifying the right partners, shaping win-win value propositions, setting clear governance, and maintaining healthy relationships using simple tools, templates, and routines.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

·        Identify and prioritize partners aligned to strategy

·        Build clear partner value propositions and joint goals

·        Structure partnerships with practical governance and roles

·        Manage relationships, expectations, and communication rhythms

·        Track performance and improve partnerships over time

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

·        Partnership and collaboration specialists

·        Business development and alliance managers

·        Program and project staff working with partners

·        Government, NGO, and private sector liaison teams

·        Anyone responsible for managing external relationships

Course Outlines

Day 1: Partnership Strategy and Partner Selection

·        What partnerships are (and are not)

·        Partnership types: strategic, delivery, referral, ecosystem

·        Partner selection criteria: fit, value, capacity, risk

·        Stakeholder mapping and influence basics

·        Activity: Build a shortlist using a simple scoring matrix 

Day 2: Designing Win-Win Value Propositions

·        Understanding partner needs and motivations

·        Defining joint outcomes and success measures

·        Crafting the partnership value proposition

·        Roles, contributions, and resource expectations

·        Workshop: Create a one-page partnership concept note

Day 3: Structuring and Launching the Partnership

·        Partnership lifecycle: explore, agree, launch, grow, renew/exit

·        Basic governance: owners, steering, working groups

·        Communication plan: cadence, channels, escalation

·        Onboarding and kickoff meeting checklist

·        Activity: Draft a partnership launch plan 

Day 4: Relationship Management and Collaboration Skills

·        Trust-building behaviors and relationship routines

·        Influencing without authority and internal alignment

·        Managing expectations, changes, and scope creep

·        Handling conflict and difficult conversations

·        Case study: Resolve a partnership breakdown scenario 

Day 5: Performance Management and Growth

·        Simple KPIs: outputs, outcomes, engagement, value created

·        Partner reviews: agendas, scorecards, action logs

·        Continuous improvement: lessons learned and renewal planning

·        Risk monitoring and when to exit a partnership

·        Final project: Present a partnership strategy and 90-day plan