Our Network

 

The growing number of collaborative groups in natural resource and community settings in the Southwest function better when skilled facilitators assist them with coordination, planning and logistical support. The Southwest Collaboratives Support Network (SWCSN) is a practitioner network bringing together experienced coordinators, facilitators and leaders of place-, interest-, and project-based collaboratives to develop and share strategies that support the work of collaborative leaders and groups. 

 

The mission of the SWCSN is to transform how stakeholders work collaboratively to conserve, restore and sustain large landscapes and their natural and human communities through building capacity and peer-to-peer support among the facilitators and leaders that work with these collaboratives. 

 

SWCSN facilitators work closely with collaborative partners, funders, agency leaders, and community members to foment leadership skills that enhance effective collaborative practices.

 

Emphasizing peer-to-peer learning and action, SWCSN convenes facilitators, coordinators and leaders of collaborative groups to:

 

• Identify critical needs and actions to support effective collaboration

• Document and share lessons, approaches and methods for designing and supporting place-based collaboratives

• Co-develop a capacity building approach/strategy for participants, leaders and facilitators of collaboratives who want to build their skills for designing, facilitating, supporting and making new and existing collaboratives more efficient and effective 

• Encourage cross-visits by facilitators to strengthen peer-to-peer sharing and networking across collaborative groups

• Organize annual face-to-face meetings and monthly online discussions for coordinators and facilitators

• Assist collaborative groups in securing funding to improve collaborative capacity

 

The Southwest Collaborative Support Network also supports the capacity building goals of the Western Collaborative Conservation Network and the Cross Watershed Network.

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The Southwest Collaborative Support Network was founded by Tahnee Robertson, of Southwest Decision Resources, Alan Barton, of the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute, and Aaron Kimple of the Mountain Studies Institute. The first official network meeting was in February 2020.