Collaboration Makes All the Difference

Did you know that 2019 is the National Year of Collaboration? Yes!

This nationwide initiative is promoted by the Forum for Integrated Governance (GovInt) and was publicly presented on January 4th with the theme ?Collaborating makes all the difference?. /p>

GovInt is an informal collaborative network of public and private institutions that reflects on more effective and efficient management of complex social problems, using integrated governance models based on inter-organizational relationships.

The advantages of networking have long been known, but this collaborative culture still faces barriers that prevent us from reaching a ?era of collaboration?. And so many things would be much easierif collaboration were the methodwithin public bodies, associations and even companies...

The responses given to poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, violence, migration or climate change continue to be ?fragmented, circumscribed and bureaucratic?. Cooperation would make the answer to these wicked problems clearer and the solutions more satisfactory.

Establishing a collaborative awareness will imply a change in practices that is only possible through a change in mentality and the acquisition of new skills. It is urgent to understand that competition is not always the solution and only by learning to collaborate can we see a true transformation!

In order to actively contribute to the dissemination of the concept, the National Year of Collaborationwants to mobilize and inspire Portuguese society to the strategic importance of collaboration as a way of solving problems and optimizing resources.

How will this year be the year of collaboration? Through a networked National Program with a decentralized dynamic , which will feature events, projects, good practices, new specific training offers and other initiatives that may be proposed.

Think social, change the rules!

Rafaela de Melo

Sources: National Year of Collaboration, GovInt, Minho's Diary