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Global Partnership Center (GPC)
The Global Partnership Center (GPC) is leading the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to expand and improve the use of partnerships to achieve policy, programmatic and operational objectives by combining the Department's capabilities and resources with the resources, expertise and creative culture of the private sector, including businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, academic institutions and others.

U.S. Department of State's Partnership Portfolio
The State Department's diverse portfolio of partnerships includes activities targeting:

• Energy policy and climate change;

• The fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa;

• Economic policy and trade promotion;

• Educational and cultural exchanges;

• Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility abroad;

• Human rights and labor issues;

• Security and counter-terrorism;

• Population and refugee resettlement; and

• Democracy promotion.

Partnerships Defined
A partnership is a collaborative working relationship between the United States Government and non-government partners, in which the goals, structure, and governance of the partnership, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each partner are mutually determined.

GPC’s Role
The GPC supports the Department's efforts to expand and improve partnerships by:

Building model partnerships that:

• Are of high strategic value;

• Are replicable; and

• Sustainable

Supporting partnership building by:

• Gathering and sharing information on ongoing partnerships;

• Standardizing, documenting, and removing unnecessary obstacles and promoting understanding and transparency with our partners; and

• Providing tools and training on public-private partnerships.

Improving partner outreach by:

• Building and stewarding relationships; and

• Acting as an honest broker.

Partnerships as a Mainstream Tool for Diplomacy
Never before has the U.S. Government had such a diverse array of resources and expertise available to advance foreign policy objectives, assist in the development of nations, and advance American ideals to counter extremism in the most vulnerable corners of the world. These resources exceed those appropriated by Congress to include the capital of the private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), foundations and other entities that play an increasingly critical role in international affairs.

New capacities have been added to the Department of State, USAID, Combatant Command elements of the Department of Defense and other US agencies with the sole intention of working in partnership with these non-state players to leverage their unique skills, technology capacities, resources and knowledge. Through this new focus, we have only begun to scratch the surface of the potential that public-private partnerships offer.

As late as 1969, 70% of U.S. resource flows to the developing world took the form of Official Development Assistance. However, by 2005, 80% of U.S. resource flows to the developing world came from private capital. This fundamental change has been reflected in recent works, such as the HELP Commission Report on Foreign Assistance Reform, the Department of State-lead Project Horizon and State's 2025 Report, that recognize the critical need to enhance U.S. capabilities to work in partnership with new non-government players. The Department has gone on to embrace this philosophy and the GPC is leading the effort to develop cutting edge partnerships that will achieve results in a dynamic and changing world.

Quotes
"The State Department will be firing on all cylinders to provide forward-thinking, sustained diplomacy in every part of the world, applying pressure wherever it may be needed, but also looking for opportunities, exerting leverage, cooperating with our military and other agencies of government, partnering with nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and international organizations, using modern technologies for public outreach, empowering negotiators who can protect our interests while understanding those of our negotiating partners. Diplomacy is hard work. But when we work hard, diplomacy can work, not just to defuse tensions, but to achieve results that advance our security interests and values." - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

"Diplomacy is primarily a government mission. But there are lots of ways that nongovernmental actors, like corporations, like religious organizations, like charities and foundations, are actually building relationships with foreign governments and foreign people all the time, which, if done in the right way, are really value added to who we are as a nation and what we can achieve." -Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

"I want more partnerships....I don't think there's any substitute for having seasoned, experienced professionals and experts leading our efforts on diplomacy and development and working, where possible, in partnership and coordination with the private sector and the not-for profit sector." -Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

"I think it's a real opportunity for us if we can figure how best to better coordinate and facilitate the private sector and the not-for-profit and religious community of the United States on behalf of humanitarian and commercial efforts." - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton