Collaborative Governance as an Example of Successful Multiparty Negotiations

Many of the economic, social, and political problems in today’s world need to be solved by creating and orchestrating a successful multiparty negotiation. One term for how this process can be organized and administered is collaborative governance.

Collaborative governance is a process by which “leaders engage with all sectors – public, private, nonprofit, citizens and others – to develop effective, lasting solutions to public problems that go beyond what any sector could do on its own.”

Collaborative governance requires four elements:

1. A sponsor. An agency, foundation, civic organization, public-private coalition, etc. to initiate and provide support.

2. A convener/leader. A governor, legislator, local official, respected civic leader, etc. with power to bring diverse people together to work on common problems.

3. A neutral forum. An impartial organization or venue, etc. to provide and ensure skilled process management.

4. Participants from all sectors. To ensure that all interests and points of view are represented.

Collaborative governance generally proceeds through the following steps:

1. Sponsors identify and raise an issue

2. Assessment is made on the feasibility for collaboration and who needs to be involved.

3. Leaders convene all the necessary participants.

4. Participants adopt the collaborative governance framework for addressing the issue.

5. Convenors and participants frame the issue for deliberation.

6. Neutral facilitators design and conduct a process to negotiate interests and integrate

resources.

7. Written agreement establishes accountability for issues resolved and commitments

made.

The collaborative governance system can work anywhere as long as the parties commit to the following principles: transparency, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, responsiveness, accountability, forum neutrality, and consensus-based decision making.

Numerous examples of collaborative governance have been achieved in areas such as community development, energy, environment, health care, human services, telecommunications, and transportation.