Partnership Resource Center - RESOURCES

Training

Successful partnership and collaborative efforts are based on a solid foundation of participants’ skills. Agencies, non-profit organizations, universities, and private entities offer many training courses from developing core competencies to facilitating collaborative processes. Tailored for partnership practitioners, these trainings can enhance skills in relationship-building, collaborative problem-solving, conflict resolution, and more.

Conflict Resolution Training

Collaborative efforts to address contentious natural resource issues often rely on a mediator skilled in environmental conflict resolution. Conflict resolution uses assisted negotiation techniques – such as facilitation and mediation – to help stakeholders work through their differences and arrive at shared decisions.

Conflict Resolution Information Source (CRInfo) is an online clearinghouse for conflict resolution information, including training and education opportunities.

U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution maintains a catalog of training and education opportunities in environmental conflict resolution.

More Training Opportunities

National Conservation Training Center (Fish and Wildlife Service) provides training and education for natural resource managers from different sectors. Topics range from on-the-ground conservation techniques to negotiation and conflict resolution.

Learning Labs are part of a Forest Service initiative to build collaborative skills through hands-on training.

The Partnership Series (Bureau of Land Management National Training Center) is a suite of classes aimed at building capacity for partnerships and collaboration in land stewardship. 2006 Course Catalog [PDF, 12 pages]

Sierra Leadership Institute is a highly regarded, interactive workshop to promote business and civic leadership skills across the Sierra Nevada. Offered by Sierra Business Council.

The Watershed Academy (Environmental Protection Agency) offers online training modules, webcast seminars, and live courses on watershed processes, management techniques, funding opportunities, citizen involvement, and more.

The Cispus Workshop is a hands-on workshop designed to give today's natural resource professionals proven, innovative communication and collaboration skills.

Partnership & Collaboration Training Modules

The Forest Service National Partnership Network is pleased to present a comprehensive suite of training modules addressing skill building in partnership development and collaboration.

Collaboration Training Catalog

Helpful Tools and Resources

The Community Toolbox for public participation, from the National Park Service, provides practical tips for group facilitation, decision-making, outreach, communication, and more.

The Partnership Capacity Assessment Tool [MS Word format] [RTF format] is a group exercise to help teams assess and grow their partnership and collaboration skills. Fact Sheet.

Partnership Development Program, a report from the Pinchot Institute, evaluates necessary skills and training opportunities for Forest Service employees and provides recommendations for training development. [PDF Format]

In "Learn While Doing," the Pinchot Institute proposes a model for developing partnership and collaboration skills in the Forest Service. [PDF Format]