AbstractsBusiness Management & Administration

The aim of this report has been to analyse a new form of partnership, developed in collaboration between the Dutch Midwifery Association, KNOV and the Sierra Leonean Midwifery association called the twin2twin approach, to reduce maternal mortality through empowerment of both midwifery associations. A literature review on partnerships for development between CSOs was conducted to provide a theoretical framework, through which a definition of a traditional partnership was obtained. The definition provided basis for an analysis of how the twin2twin approach addressed central aspects of partnerships for development between civil society organisations. The central aspects are unequal power relations, accountability and empowerment. This report shows that the twin2twin project address the aspects through an emphasis on mutuality, empowerment and reciprocity, which became dominating in the way the project was implemented. This has had implications for the project structure, which defined goals for both organisations and was funded through shared fundraising. The analysis has shown that there are dimensions of unequal power relations, accountability and empowerment, which the project has problems in addressing. One important dimension is that the project has changed from a focus on reductions of maternal mortality to a focus on empowerment of midwives. This change has not been communicated sufficiently to participants, donors or external stakeholders. Advisors/Committee Members: Hood, Johanna (advisor).