Why philanthropic collaborations should thrive and lead the battle against COVID-19

Collaboration has been a critical multiplier of human endeavour throughout history. The same holds true in philanthropy, through which funders and changemakers aggregate capital, networks, and talent to pursue solving the looming climate, social, economic, and other challenges facing India. And as the nation combats the COVID-19 crisis and its far-reaching effects, the advantages of collective action have never been more apparent.

First, by leveraging the diverse skills and experiences of different partners and stakeholders, collaboration’s total effect can be greater than the sum of its parts. For example, the COVID Action Collaborative (CAC), anchored by the Catalyst Group, consists of more than 150 organizations focussed on healthcare and mitigating negative effects on livelihoods. The impact of the pandemic is not limited to the health impacts of the disease; communities are dealing with interconnected shocks to their economic, public health, and civic systems. The CAC activates the specialised expertise of its members—from the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia—to bring communities a holistic package of services, including testing, livelihood recovery, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The collaborative’s reach extends to two million people across 15 states. Second, collaboration expands the circle of influence and the impact of individual actors, including civil society organizations (CSOs). Consider the National Coalition of CSOs, a collaborative of more than 30 NGOs—including Pradan, Srijan, Jan Swasthya Sahyog, and Kaivalya Education Foundation—that was formed to enable a rapid rural community response to COVID-19 (RCRC).

Published on YourStory

Read more at https://yourstory.com/2020/05/philanthropic-collaborations-thrive-lead-covid-19-battle