;

• In a world increasingly perceived as a global village, but which, paradoxically, is witnessing the disintegration of more and more communities;
• In a world suffering from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, exploitation, social injustice and unemployment, encountering rising intolerance and racism, threatened by individualism and the desire for profit at any price, seeking greater democracy and the respect of human rights, at a time when the health, the environment and peace are threatened in numerous regions;
• In a world where totalitarianism and barriers between people are disappearing, and where modern means of communication offer undreamt-of possibilities to establish contacts and form links among people;

More than ever before, we need men and women capable of acting in partnership for a world "without border", in the name of justice, solidarity and peace.

We firmly believe that Scouting, faithful to its fundamental principles and with its proven specific educational method, can significantly contribute to the development of the kind of citizens which the world needs.

In Scouting, education for partnership starts in the patrol, when a young person learns to discover other people, to respect their differences and to act with them. This discovery gradually extends to the world around him or her, to the local, national and international community.

• the partnership meets the young people's needs and aspirations, and involves them in all stages of action;
• the partnership is based on the fundamental principles of Scouting;
• the partnership serves to:
  • enrich the youth programme of the Scout associations concerned,
  • strengthen their human and financial resources,
  • develop their infrastructure;
  • the partnership is built upon the principles of equality, autonomy, reciprocity and fraternity:
  • recognise the other as a full partner with the same rights and obligations,
  • recognise that the other bears the main responsibility for its own development,
  • respect the culture, values and beliefs of the other,
  • respect the educational choices and structures of the partner association,
  • seek to strengthen the autonomy of the other whilst accepting the need to be interdependent,
  • recognise the other's contribution and endeavour to ensure a reciprocal exchange,
  • avoid harming the partner and its credibility,
  • place human relationships at the heart of the partnership, in a spirit of openness and tolerance;
  • the implementation process is based on transparency and co-management:
  • freely express needs in a spirit of mutual trust,
  • consult each other before taking any decision,
  • make decisions together at all stages of the project (identification of needs, definition of objectives, implementation, evaluation and follow-up).

• Partnership contributes to the enrichment of the youth programme, especially in the field of development education and peace education.
• In implementing partnership, it is important:
• to identify the needs and aspirations of the young people in each community,
• to involve the young people in all stages of the partnership activities,
• to consider the patrol as the basic cell.
• Partnership is a means to discover, understand and respect others, their cultures, lifestyles and Scouting practices.
• Development education and peace education promote the rights of men, women and children.
• Development education and community involvement need to be integrated into the youth programme, in particular through the progressive scheme.
• Young people need to be involved in regularly evaluating and updating the partnership, taking the specific objectives of each partner into account.
• Partnership contributes to the participation of all young people and their social, cultural and economic integration into their local, national and international communities.

Youth exchanges are a privileged means of promoting development education and peace education.

In order to be fully educational, they should:

• allow both partners to share knowledge and skills;
• be prepared jointly in a spirit of mutual respect, involving young people in all stages of the project as the main participants in the partnership;
• train young people to acquire a good understanding of their own culture and that of their partners;
• be planned, implemented and evaluated jointly;
• ensure that partners contribute equally;
• be founded on the principle of reciprocity;
• enable young people to share their experience upon their return home.

Partnership enables us to strengthen the adult resources of partner Scout associations, especially through leader exchanges, leader training and volunteer service. Associations should ensure that leader exchanges are based upon the same principle as those defined for youth exchanges.

In the case of trainees, it is essential for the Scout associations concerned and, if need be, the appropriate bodies of WOSM to discuss in advance:

• the choice of trainees,
• their preparation,
• the objectives and content of their training,
• evaluation,
• what is expected of the trainee upon his/her return.

Overseas volunteers should meet the following criteria:

• the volunteer is under the responsibility of the association to which he or she is assigned. A detailed contract defines the mission of the volunteer and the relationship between him, his own association and his host association;
• the volunteer should correspond to the following profile:
• be a member of the Scout Movement or at least accept its fundamental principles,
• be able to provide training,
• have the skills and professional experience corresponding to the job description,
• be able to get on with people and adapt to different situations;
• the contract should be long enough to allow time for adaptation, planning, implementation and preparation for the future: creation of the conditions required to guarantee the durability of the project, especially the training of local leaders to take over from the volunteer, etc.;
• the host association should do everything possible to prepare the volunteer and facilitate his work and integration;
• the partners should jointly evaluate the volunteer's work during and after the contracted period;

To guarantee development and peace education through partnership activities, Scout Associations should include this dimension in the adult leader training programme at all levels and for all age sections.

• The financial dimension should not be the only motive for partnership. Above all, partnership should be based on a mutual need to learn more about each other and to pursue a common objective together.
• Financial co-operation requires:
• determining jointly the aim of the activity or projects to be funded;
• agreeing on the criteria and rules governing the granting of funds or the provision of services;
• ensuring transparency in financial management;
• exchanging information on administrative and financial procedures;
• evaluating jointly.
• This co-operation should be based on real solidarity between all associations, by encouraging them to devote a percentage of their own budget to development.
• It should also promote direct action between associations in neighbouring countries, as a way of sharing and using available resources more effectively;
• The development of Scouting depends on support for the educational programmes and infrastructure of associations. Public and private sponsors need to be convinced to provide such financial support.
• Partnership should enable associations to gain access to different kinds of funding, in order to guarantee their automony and multiply their possibilities for action. It should also find funding for projects which enable an association to generate its own funds.
• All associations should be encouraged:
• to contribute to the "U-Fund" (Scout Universal Fund ñ WOSM solidarity fund).
• to assist Scout associations in countries which are victims of conflicts or natural disasters.
• Likewise, funding for development education is essential for partnership.
• From a financial point of view, it is essential that the partnership is built on mutual trust, transparency in financial matters and the assurance that both partners benefit equally at the end of the exchange.

• Associations are encouraged to establish multilateral partnerships with other Scout associations or governmental or non-governmental organizations, especially in the same geographical area.
• This type of partnership can help to develop more egalitarian relationships between partners and to enrich exchanges.

Partnerships between Scout associations and other local, national, international, governmental or non-governmental organisations enable associations to strengthen the educational impact of their activities.

These organisations should be encouraged to acknowledge the contribution of Scouting to the development of society through its educational action, and to cooperate more closely with Scouting at local, national and international level, respecting its independence and specific character.

Such partnerships may take a variety of forms: financial support, provision of material, expert technical support, preparation of educational material, etc.

They should also encourage Scout associations, at national and international (regional and worlwide) level, to participate in collective consultations to develop youth policies.

Scout associations are invited to prepare and establish their partnership activities and relationships in consultation with the appropriate WOSM bodies.

These bodies should support associations in the development and implementation of these activities, namely:

• by signing agreements at international level with other organisations, in order to gain recognition for Scout activities in the fields of action of these organisations;
• by developing educational tools, to help associations to implement these activities as effectively as possible;
• by encouraging the exchange of information on partnership experiences by all appropriate means (publications, networks, etc.).

• Partnership is particularly necessary in emergencies, conflicts and natural disasters.
• Through its educational programme, Scouting prepares young people to play an active role in the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts. It contributes to emergency relief work by mobilising its members and appealing for solidarity. Once the emergency is over, it helps with reconstruction and rehabilitation.
• It is important that support networks exist, in order to allow associations to intervene rapidly and effectively in an emergency.
• Scouting must remain true to its fundamental principles and method by focusing its action on caring for children and young victims.

Partnership activities should be regulated by a "partnership agreement" in the form of a convention between two or more associations or organisations in the spirit of the present Charter.

A partnership agreement is a moral commitment between the partners, based on shared ideals and convictions. It clearly defines the objectives, means of action and implementation procedure of the project. It also defines the responsibilities and framework within which each partner can act.