Assessing and improving partnership relationships and outcomes: a proposed framework

To date, no evaluation frameworks are specifically targeted at evaluating partnership relationships, as opposed to partnership programmatic outcomes. Following a discussion and definition of partnership, its defining features, and value-added, the paper proposes a framework for assessing partnership relationships in order to: (1) improve partnership practice in progress, (2) refine and test hypotheses regarding partnership's contribution to performance and outcomes, and (3) suggest lessons for future partnership work. The proposed assessment approach is continuous, process-oriented and participatory, and developmental. Targets of assessment include compliance with prerequisites and success factors, degree of partnership practice, the outcomes of the partnership relationships, partners' performance, and efficiency. Indicators and associated methods are proposed for each of these. The framework addresses the evaluation challenges of integrating process and institutional arrangements into performance measurement systems, thus contributing to relationship performance as well as program outcomes. It can also be used to enhance the theory and practice of partnership. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All fights reserved.