Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement
Building the strategic alliances and collaborative networks that multiply impact — connecting governments, international organisations, private sector, and civil society around shared environmental priorities across Africa.
No single institution can address the scale of Africa’s chemicals and waste challenges alone. The Africa Institute acts as a convener and connector — building the strategic partnerships and multi-stakeholder platforms that align resources, share knowledge, and generate collective action. From bilateral agreements with leading global agencies to grassroots civil society networks, our partnership model amplifies every programme we deliver.
Partnership Categories
Six distinct partnership types — each engaging a different stakeholder group with a specific role in the chemicals and waste ecosystem.
International Organisations
UNEP, UNIDO, UNITAR & BRS Secretariats
Academic Institutions
Research universities & MOU partners
Private Sector
Industry for technology & innovation
Civil Society
NGOs for grassroots implementation
Regional Bodies
SADC, ECOWAS & African Union
Donor Partners
GEF, bilateral donors & development finance
Strategic Partnership Services
How we build, develop, and sustain partnerships — from initial MOU negotiation to long-term joint programme delivery.
International Partnerships
Close collaboration with UNEP, UNIDO, UNITAR, and the Secretariats of the Basel, Stockholm, Rotterdam, and Minamata Conventions — aligning regional programmes with global environmental governance frameworks.
Academic Partnerships
Memoranda of Understanding with research institutions and universities to enhance research capacity, drive innovation, and produce the evidence base needed for effective policy and programme design.
Private Sector Engagement
Industry collaboration for technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable business practices — connecting responsible companies with national implementation needs and enabling market-based solutions.
Civil Society Collaboration
Partnerships with NGOs for grassroots implementation, community engagement, and advocacy — bringing national-level commitments to life in the communities most affected by chemical and waste hazards.
Regional Integration
Linkages with SADC, ECOWAS, and the African Union to align environmental priorities with continental development agendas — embedding chemicals and waste management into broader regional policy frameworks.
Donor Engagement
Strategic relationships with GEF, bilateral donors, and development partners — building trust, demonstrating impact, and securing the sustained financing needed for long-term programme delivery.
Key Global Partners
Named institutional relationships that underpin our regional programmes — each bringing unique expertise, resources, and reach.
Long-standing cooperation on GHS implementation and legislative development — providing technical expertise and co-financing for national chemical regulation capacity across member states.
Collaboration on multiple regional and national projects — providing the grant financing backbone for major PCB elimination, NIP development, mercury, and ASGM programmes across the region.
Collaboration on legal framework strengthening, project implementation, and technical assistance — leveraging UN system resources to scale regional impact and ensure alignment with global standards.
Direct coordination with the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions — including Small Grants Programme collaboration and alignment of regional activities with convention COP decisions.
Linkages with the Southern African Development Community and African Union bodies to embed chemicals and waste management within continental development frameworks and shared regional policy agendas.
Coordination with other Basel and Stockholm Convention Regional Centres globally — sharing lessons learned, collaborating on joint projects, and presenting a unified African voice in global convention processes.
Stakeholder Engagement Rhythm
A structured annual cycle of engagement — ensuring all key stakeholders are informed, consulted, and involved in shaping regional priorities.
Governing Council
Strategic direction and oversight — highest-level governance body bringing together member states and key partners.
Member State Consultations
Direct engagement with member states on capacity needs, programme priorities, and implementation progress.
Technical Working Groups
Specialist advisory groups for specific thematic areas — providing expert guidance on programme design and technical standards.
International Conferences
Participation in global convention meetings, COPs, and environmental forums — representing the African region’s interests and priorities.
Bilateral Engagements
Outreach to non-ratified countries to encourage membership — expanding the Institute’s reach and growing the regional network.
Knowledge Platforms
Facilitated platforms for information sharing and coordination — bringing together government, industry, civil society, and academia.
Partnership Building Services
The practical support we provide to members states and organisations building their own partnership and stakeholder engagement capacity.
Partnership Development Support
We help member states and organisations establish and formalise the partnerships they need to accelerate convention implementation and resource mobilisation.
- MOU negotiation support — advising on partnership agreements with international organisations and academic institutions
- Stakeholder mapping — identifying key actors, interests, and potential alliance partners at national and regional levels
- Partnership strategy development — aligning engagement approaches with institutional priorities and resource constraints
- Joint proposal development — coordinating multi-partner funding proposals to GEF and other donors
- Relationship facilitation — brokering introductions and facilitating working relationships among key stakeholders
- Network participation support — enabling member states to engage effectively in regional and global networks
Key Partnership Achievements
Demonstrated outcomes from the Institute’s partnership development work — evidence of the collaborative model’s effectiveness.
- KEMI cooperation on GHS — long-running bilateral programme supporting chemical regulation across multiple member states
- Multiple GEF project partnerships — co-implemented regional and national projects leveraging global environment finance
- Implementing agency network — established partnerships with delivery organisations across 24 eligible countries
- Governing Council engagement — regular high-level participation from all 9 member states in strategic governance
- Global BCRC/SCRC network — active coordination with peer centres for South-South learning and collaboration
- HACT Assessment achievement — enhanced donor confidence enabling access to a wider range of bilateral funding sources
Partnership Development Process
How we identify, build, and sustain the partnerships that drive regional impact — from prospecting through to ongoing stewardship.
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Landscape Analysis
Mapping the stakeholder ecosystem — identifying who matters, what they care about, and what value a partnership could create for all parties.
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Partnership Scoping
Defining the purpose, scope, and expected outcomes of potential partnerships — ensuring mutual benefit and strategic alignment before formalising agreements.
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Agreement Formalisation
Negotiating and signing Memoranda of Understanding, Letters of Intent, and collaborative frameworks that create clear expectations and accountability for all parties.
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Joint Work Planning
Developing shared work plans, communication protocols, and resource contribution frameworks — translating partnership intent into concrete collaborative activities.
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Active Engagement
Maintaining regular dialogue, co-delivering programmes, and managing relationships through joint governance structures, progress reviews, and shared communications.
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Review & Evolution
Periodically assessing partnership performance, refreshing priorities, and adapting engagement approaches as contexts and needs change over time.
Interested in partnering with the Africa Institute?
Whether you are an international organisation, research institution, private sector partner, or civil society organisation — contact us to explore collaboration opportunities.
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