Being clear on the roles of each partner is essential and such insecurities can be handled by keeping government officials abreast of all developments, including them in the discussions, and getting their advice to improve the partnership. A feedback mechanism to primary and secondary stakeholders is crucial from the very beginning. Northern 'partners' are not actively supporting these groups and sometimes their support is tilted towards governments and their political allies, instead of actively supporting the stance of civil society organizations to reach out to the disadvantaged sections. Yet power gets negotiated and distributed according to competence and ability. Recognize that a certain level of tension is good.
Prejudices sometimes limit the possibility of certain voices being heard.
People tend to blame authorities for existing problems rather than looking for solutions on their own. It is a gradual process, requiring lots of perseverance, capacity building, and expertise. Local NGOs are currently following a code of conduct to observe some principles and guidelines for transparent functions. Donors and northern organizations should also be accountable to their partners in these countries. Partnerships could increase the level of sustainability because they provide diversity in responses to the issues and involve more stakeholders in working towards success of the activity.