2007, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
This model MOU has been prepared to help facilitate the development of a partnership agreement between partners. The text is based on external studies and examples of ‘best practice’ in formulating agreements within CRS. The intention is to help formulate agreements that reflects the CRS Partnership Principles and the mutual understanding of the parties. It should be considered a model and therefore adapted and changed to accurately apply to each unique partnership.
More than just a document, the formulation of an MOU is a process for discussion, clarification and negotiation that is critical to partnership. This process could take 2 months, 6 months even a year and should be considered joint work. The Partnership Toolbox: A Facilitators Guide to Partnership Dialogue has a section on creating an MOU and exercises that may be useful in guiding the process (found in Chapter 4: Putting it Together). Engaging an external facilitator may be considered if the facilitation skills are not available or if a neutral facilitator would be more effective. The end result is a document but more importantly a clearer understanding and communication about why each has entered into the partnership, expectations and how both parties will engage one another. Editing the document and sending it to a partner for comment will be counterproductive because it is not practicing the partnership principles!
Some suggestions from past practice suggest that engaging a facilitator for the process is helpful. Also a combination of small and large group discussions helped the large group work more quickly and productively, i.e. a small joint task force produces a draft discussion paper.
