Co-governing

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Co-governing

Introduction

Transformative partnerships need more than shared goals and good intentions. Partnerships also need co-created structures and processes. Co-governance sets the stage for how partners make decisions together, share responsibility, and keep things moving.

What does it mean?

Co-governance is all about designing the how together: how success is defined and achieved, how decisions are made, how resources are used, and how progress and change are managed along the way. It’s a living framework that grows with the partnership, ensuring clarity on roles, smooth problem-solving, and shared celebration of achievements. The payoff? Clarity, coordination, and continuity.

Why does it matter?

Partnerships often span sectors, borders, and mindsets. Without strong co-governance, even the best collaborations can stumble into confusion, overlap, or stalled progress. Co-governance isn’t about control; it’s about shared confidence. It balances power, builds transparency, and gives everyone a seat (and voice) at the decision-making table.

Ingredients for successful co-governing

1

Joint decision-making processes

Set up clear, inclusive ways to make decisions, whether they’re technical, operational, or strategic. Build in “fast lanes” for quick calls and “slow lanes” for reflective strategic decisions, so progress doesn’t stall.

2

Adaptive governance: keeping it in motion

It is helpful to set up clear layers for decision-making such as a steering committee to keep the big picture in focus, a core group to coordinate day-to-day rhythm, and working groups to dive deep where the action happens. And don’t let it go on autopilot – mix it up! Rotate facilitation or leadership roles to balance influence and keep fresh ideas coming. Every so often, pause together and ask, “Is this still working for us?” If not, tweak, reshape, or reinvent.

Transparency and mutual accountability: keep the lights on

3

A partnership shines brightest when everyone can see what’s happening. Therefore, it is helpful when data, updates, and insights are regularly shared so surprises don’t sneak up. Regular monitoring can help to spot challenges early, celebrate wins, and strengthen collective ownership.

Keep a shared compass

4

Partnerships evolve, and so should their plans. Revisit and refine the partnership’s “why” regularly to ensure alignment as contexts and goals shift. Build in time to imagine “what if” scenarios together, exploring how you’d respond to shifts, surprises, or new opportunities. Just as importantly, agree on how the partnership can pause, pivot, or gracefully close a chapter when needed, and how it might renew itself for what comes next.

Illustration

Example of co-governing

Dive into the methodology and experiences of Digital Health Convergence Workshops in two countries (Lao PDR and Sri Lanka), a project with support from UNICEF, PATH and Asia eHealth Information Network. 

The workshops aimed to facilitate broader stakeholder engagement and commitment to digital health governance priorities in the countries: Digital Health Convergence Workshops

Image: Asia eHealth Information Network 

Want to know more?

Tools

  • Navigate through the process of setting up partnership agreements by the scorecard developed by the Partnerships Resource Centre and the Partnering Initiative: Designing-Comprehensive-Partnering-Agreements_
  • The Partnering Initiative developed a “Health Check” for partnerships. This tool can help partners in monitoring the health and efficiency of the partnership’s setup, operation, processes and the partner relationships: Partnership-health-check.pdf

Readings

 

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