ABSTRACT
As private sector organisations engage more and more in multi-actor partnerships, those that are responsible for managing the partnerships are largely expected to possess project management skills. Raising awareness about the unique skills that an internal partnership broker brings to a multi-actor partnership, and how the skills can coexist fluidly with those of a project manager, will help to establish partnership brokering as a recognised practice. By demonstrating how partnership brokering directly contributes to achieving business objectives, the private sector will come to see partnership brokering as an important contributor to the success of the private sector in multi-actor partnerships. A lack of awareness and perceived value about partnership brokering is a major hurdle in the acknowledgement of the partnership brokering role and added value in a multi-actor partnership. The reasons for private sector engagement in multi-actor partnerships can broadly be grouped into three categories: support for communities and causes; engagement with key stakeholders; and incubating shared value.
