Skip to main content
Illustration of forms of partnership

Types of partnership

Cooperation frameworks tailored to the expertise involved, the target audiences and the desired outcomes

Before choosing

Frames that do not exclude one another

Cooperation needs vary from one organisation to another. The IIRCF distinguishes between several forms of partnership in order to establish a framework tailored to the nature of the relationship, the contributions available and the level of ambition of the joint project.

These forms are not mutually exclusive. A single collaboration may, for example, combine an institutional dimension, technical expertise, a training programme and a research or certification component.

Delegations gathered for an institutional meeting
Six managers

The forms that cooperation can take

Institutional partnerships

They enable the establishment of cooperation with public institutions, bodies, government departments or organisations seeking to develop their teams’ capabilities in a sustainable manner, professionalise a role, support a reform or set up an internal skills development programme.

Academic and scientific partnerships

They forge links between the IIRCF and universities, higher education institutions, research centres and academic bodies in order to bring together research, expertise, training and knowledge generation. They may support applied research, joint programmes, expert contributions or the development of specialised resources.

Technical and expert partnerships

They rely on drawing on complementary skills to design or strengthen a programme, a framework, a methodology or a support scheme. They may involve consultancies, networks of experts, specialist organisations or professionals with recognised expertise in a specific area.

Partnerships with businesses and professional organisations

These partnerships help to align training programmes with the realities of the workplace, economic changes and skills requirements. They may relate to the professional development of staff, management development, changes in job roles, the training of trainers or the creation of sector-specific pathways.

Partnerships with development stakeholders and international organisations

They can support multi-stakeholder, regional or multi-country programmes, capacity-building initiatives, expertise-transfer schemes or actions linked to development priorities. Such cooperation requires clear governance, a precise definition of responsibilities and the ability to document results.

Partnerships for training, certification and academies

They aim to create or roll out structured learning pathways: qualifications, academies, in-house vocational schools, professional development schemes, multi-cohort programmes or train-the-trainer schemes. They may combine subject-matter expertise, instructional design, assessment, certification and capacity-building.

Building the right framework for cooperation

The choice of partnership model depends on the specific needs, the maturity of the relationship, the contributions available and the desired outcomes. The IIRCF favours a proportionate framework: sufficiently structured to ensure cooperation, without unnecessarily complicating its implementation.