Start now with the Partos Power Awareness Tool 2.0 & guidelines
Power Awareness in International Collaboration
The Partos Power Awareness Tool (PAT) is developed as a tool to help make power relations in partnerships more visible. The tool allows the different stakeholders to share and monitor their insights on their decision-making practice within their projects, programs and partnerships. This makes it easier for partners to reflect on their power relations and agree on changes where necessary.
It is part of a shared objective of Partos and involved members to actively promote and work to shift power, understand the effects of power dynamics on the decision-making process and create transparency on why, how and by whom decisions are being made.
What’s new?
Partos launched the first version, PAT 1.0, in February 2020. Since then, several Partos members and their partners have been using the PAT. In 2022, the tool was evaluated by over 70 end-users by Partos members and Southern partners, resulting in the 2.0 version. The new version mainly improved the user experience, making the use of the tool simpler and more intuitive. Furthermore, the guiding document provide step-by-step guidelines on how to apply the tool, and instructions for facilitation.
On the horizon: Digitizing the tool
Partos and a select group of members are currently in the process of digitizing the Power Awareness tool 2.0. This will allow users to create accounts, submit cases and generate direct results of the PAT through an online platform/tool. The web-based version is expected to be launched in September 2024.
“The Power Awareness Tool provided a concrete and timely opportunity to test and put into practice elements of Cordaid’s own internal policy guidance on Partnership and Alliances building.” – Izabella Toth (Cordaid)
“Power balance and understanding of power relations in partnerships cannot be wished away. This tool has been vital in helping the partners in both Kenya and Ethiopia to reflect, understand and come up with concrete steps towards balancing power with a more clear understanding of their obligations, roles and responsibility. I wish we had in fact used this tool earlier in the partnership.” – Susan Githaiga (Civic Engagement Alliance/ICCO Coordinator Kenya)