In many international settings, partnerships usually start with contracts, explicit goals, and specific things that need to be done.
In Indonesia, the first thing to do is typically different: trust comes first.
Before signing formal contracts, people normally get to know each other by talking about their goals, making each other feel comfortable, and proving their trustworthiness. This can happen by talking, minor encounters, or just being consistent over time.
Based on my work with the government, NGOs, and multi-donor projects, I’ve observed that when trust is built early on, everything else—alignment, decision-making, and implementation—goes much more smoothly.
Some partners might not be used to this or it might seem slow to them. But in actuality, it’s a very important investment.
In Indonesia, good partnerships are not just based on contracts. They are based on connections that make those contracts function.
#partnerships#collaboration#kolaborasi#crosscultural#indonesia
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