Feedback Loops and Facilitation

Catalyzing Transformational Multi-Stakeholder Refugee Response Partnerships

Bibliographic Data

ID23196918
AuthorsJaime Moreno-Serna (0000-0002-7441-3241, Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain), Teresa Sánchez-Chaparro (0000-0003-3444-1501, Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain, corresponding author), Leda Stott (0009-0005-0419-0563, Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain), Javier Mazorra (0000-0001-7662-917X, Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain), Ruth Carrasco‐Gallego (0000-0002-9542-3836, Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain), Carlos Mataix (Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain)
Year2021
Volume13
Issue21
Pages11705
Publication date2021-10-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainability (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2071-1050 • E-ISSN: 2071-1050
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/su132111705
OpenAlexW3210641357
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited94

Global policies such as the recent ‘Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework’ call for a profound transformation in refugee response. To this end, collaboration with non-traditional humanitarian actors, particularly the private sector has been advocated. The application of new multi-stakeholder partnerships that transcend traditional dyadic relationships have been commended by practitioners for their ability to create stable services and markets in refugee camps. However, the adaptation of multi-stakeholder partnership models to the novelties of refugee response and the dynamics among partners in these complex arrangements requires more attention. This paper explores how the creation and development of multi-stakeholder partnerships can maximize the transformational potential of collaboration for refugee response, ensure the stakeholder diversity needed to provide basic services on a stable basis, and provide a facilitation function that supports the partnership. Using an action-case methodology, the focus of the article is on the Alianza Shire, Spain’s first multi-stakeholder partnership for humanitarian action, which was established to provide energy to refugee camps and host communities in refugee camps in northern Ethiopia. Our findings suggest that (i) the active participation of aid agencies in the co-creation process of a multi-stakeholder partnership may increase the transformational potential of refugee response, (ii) feedback loops and the consolidation of internal learning are essential practices for the effective management of complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, and (iii) the facilitator plays a critical and underexplored role in refugee response collaborative arrangements. In addition, sustainability-oriented university centers may possess a particular capacity for nurturing the transformational potential of multi-stakeholder refugee response partnerships by generating ‘safe spaces’ that foster trust-building, providing a cross-sector ‘translation’ service, and affording the legitimacy and expert knowledge required to conduct learning processes. We believe that the theoretical and practical implications of our research may contribute to the effective fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals, specially, SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG17 (Partnership for the Goals).

Business · Facilitator · General partnership · Political science · Public relations · Refugee · Stakeholder · Transformational leadership · International Development and Aid · Municipal Solid Waste Management · Religion, Society, and Development