TOOLS / TEMPLATES / GUIDES
Partnership Capacity Assessment Tool
Fact Sheet
The National Partnership Office of the USDA Forest
Service is pleased to offer the Partnership Capacity Assessment
Tool, available online through www.partnershipresourcecenter.org. The Assessment
Tool helps Forest Service units assess, sustain, and improve their abilities
to work with partners in continuing the Forest Service’s long
history of partnership and collaboration in land stewardship.
What is the Partnership Capacity Assessment Tool ?
The Assessment Tool is a group exercise that helps teams reflect on experiences
and attitudes about partnerships and collaboration. The tool asks the group to
score itself on a series of questions about partnership opportunities, goals,
resources, procedures, incentives, barriers, skills, and relationships. The team
uses these scores to chart strengths, analyze positive and negative factors that
contribute to partnership capacity, and identify actions to sustain and grow
capacity.
Who should use the Assessment Tool ?
Field units at any level, including field or research
offices, ranger districts, or forests, will benefit from the assessment.
Units with well-established partnership programs may value this
tool most for its ability to generate open dialogue with partners and among
staff. For units with less experience in partnerships, the tool will be
a useful starting point for assessing current partnership abilities and
discussing how to maintain strengths or address needs.
How can my team use the Assessment Tool to best meet our needs ?
The Assessment Tool is very versatile and can be applied
in multiple ways. For example, you may use it as part of an annual
business planning process or as a stand-alone tool to assess partnership
needs and develop priorities to meet those needs. The tool is best completed
in a group setting, either internally or with partners. Including partners
in the process can help to promote dialogue and improve relationships. However,
the tool is not intended to assess the feasibility of or develop
plans for specific partnership opportunities.
How long will the assessment take ?
If participants familiarize themselves with the tool
beforehand, groups can expect to complete the assessment in half
a day. The investment of time will pay off by helping teams systematically
identify needs and actions to meet those needs. Using a trained
facilitator to keep the process moving smoothly is highly recommended.
Partnership Coordinators can provide facilitation assistance.
Where can I find the Assessment Tool ?
Go to the Partnership
Resource Center's Tools, Templates, and Guides page.
From there, follow the link to the “Partnership Capacity Assessment
Tool” from the orange box in the upper right corner.
Who can I contact for help with this tool or for more information ?
Contact your Regional
or Forest Partnership Coordinator,
or the National
Partnership Office. Visit www.partnershipresourcecenter.org for
additional resources on building effective partnerships.
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