CASDP champions the partnership approach in appreciation of the following principle: the combined strengths and collective actions of partners have the potential to deliver results more efficiently and effectively than parties working independently. Moreover, collective efforts yield collective benefits, both in making progress in reducing poverty and improving the quality of life in developing countries, but also in creating viable, new markets for products and services.

CASDP derives its mandate from the political declarations extending from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, September 2002). In particular, partnership initiatives emerged as a key implementation mechanism for achieving a broad range of sustainable development objectives. CASDP recognises the formidable challenge WSSD placed on partnerships.

CASDP’s mission is to ensure that partnerships are capable of meeting this challenge.

CASDP is an independent, non-profit organisation governed by a board of directors who share the vision of sustainable development and are committed to increasing the capacity of partnerships to deliver sustainable solutions. CASDP benefits from the counsel of an advisory committee comprised of representatives from organisations with active sustainable development programmes.

CASDP administers a portfolio of projects aimed at achieving its mission. The initial project portfolio includes:

• Partnerships Central, an online service-based clearinghouse (or one-stop shop) designed to improve the capacity of partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals
  
  
• The World Partnerships Forum, an international conference to engage participation and action in the global effort to advance the partnership approach to sustainable development
  
  
• The Expert Exchange and Training programme brings together partnership representatives and experts on project development and financing to share case studies, best practices, and guidance for different aspects of setting up and running partnerships, through ‘expert lending’, meetings, seminars and training sessions.

In short, the combined strengths and competencies of relevant ‘partner’ stakeholders is the most effective path to sustainable development. CASDP seeks to improve frameworks which integrate i) the private sector’s contribution in service delivery, ii) governments facilitating the enabling environ-ment for these new relationships, and iii) communities, local organizations and civil society providing the critical support function at the project implementation level. As partnerships succeed, communities benefit, governments serve more effectively, and private enterprise profits, resulting in a win-win-win situation that is the ultimate aim of sustainable development.