ABSTRACT
Collaboration among stakeholders at regional and global levels is advocated as a means of improving healthcare developments, effectively and efficiently, especially in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). However, not all collaborations work. This chapter addresses considerations that make successful collaborations and describe some of the limiting barriers. Characteristics of successful partnerships include a willingness to collaborate, trust in each other, mutual respect, and communication. Organizational determinants also play a crucial role, especially in terms of human resource management and strong leadership. Broad guidelines for successful partnerships include project initiation by host organization, performing a needs assessment prior to developing the project, engaging the relevant stakeholders during the needs assessment and project planning, development of a long-term budget, tailoring the project to match local circumstances along with a five- to ten-year plan with a clear transfer of responsibility and ownership to the host organization. Availability of appropriate data will help guide policy-makers and enhance evidence-based decision-making. Examples of databases developed at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that provide such support are provided. The IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative is a model of how South–South cooperation can be encouraged to develop radiotherapy capacity in LMICs.
