Partnership Dictionary Workbook

The workbook provides a crosswalk of common terms and languages associated with purposes, contexts, and relationship enablers to help USAID staff navigate the partnership journey more effectively. The workbook is based on a detailed review of over 2,300 articles from business and social sciences peer-reviewed literature and gray literature, supplemented by interviews with 41 individuals actively engaged in business-involved partnerships in the development context. The definitions and private-sector synonyms were sourced from various documents, including the USAID PSE Policy, PSE Hub Taxonomy, GDA APS, OECD Private Sector Taxonomy, and PSE Core Competencies. The workbook is organized into two main sections: Purpose Translator and Context Translator. The Purpose Translator section provides a list of common terms and languages associated with purposes, including altruism, asymmetry, capability, capacity, corporate social responsibility, efficiency, innovation, legitimacy, necessity, profit, reciprocity, stability, sustainability, and value. Each term is defined and accompanied by private-sector synonyms and USAID equivalents. The Context Translator section provides a list of common terms and languages associated with contexts, including business, climate, community, and culture, economy, and market, and organizational aspects. Each term is defined and accompanied by private-sector synonyms and USAID equivalents. The LASER PULSE program, a $70 million program funded through USAID's Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub, is mentioned in the workbook as an example of a partnership that aims to deliver research-driven solutions to field-sourced development challenges in USAID interest countries. The program is implemented by a consortium led by Purdue University, with core partners Catholic Relief Services, Indiana University, Makerere University, and the University of Notre Dame, through a growing network of 3,000+ researchers and development practitioners in 74 countries. The workbook is a valuable resource for USAID staff and other stakeholders involved in partnerships, as it provides a common language and framework for understanding and navigating the complexities of partnerships across various sectors and actors.