Prerequisites and actions described that support collaboration
| Category | Subcategory | |
| Pre-requisites and actions described that support collaboration | Common goals | One essential enabler brought forward was the need to have common, compatible and clear goals and objectives of the collaboration.82 90 112 119 |
| Pre-existing relationships | Pre-existing relationships and a good track record of collaborations between the partners or other partners (including the community that was often the end beneficiary of collaborations) were mentioned as important enablers. Part of this category also included personal and informal links and relationships that enhanced collaborative efforts.51 62 83 90 92 106 124 | |
| Selecting the right partners | The notion of selecting the right partners for the collaboration where issues relating to engaging trustworthy partners and requiring them directly were brought up.64 82 90 114 127 | |
| Equality among partners | Collaboration was also described to be enabled by recognition of equality among partners, which was linked to the importance of trust and relationships but emphasising the importance of recognising the needs of the engaged partners to partake in the collaboration and having joint decision-making and shared credit of efforts.61 64 65 82 125 | |
| Investing in trust | Investing in trust and relationships between the partners included aspects of mutual trust and adopting a collaborative philosophy.82 83 108 112 | |
| Commitment | Committed leadership and local ownership were brought forward as an important enabler.52 54 66 108 119 124 | |
| Facilitation | It was also considered important to have people within the collaborating partners that facilitated the collaboration, for example, a champion.61 64 81 82 108 | |
| Recognition of competencies opportunities for reach | This included aspects of having wide networks and the ability to negotiate with different actors outside the collaboration.52 60 64 73 108 114 127 | |
| Formal agreements and processes | The presence of required formal agreements and processes outlining roles and responsibilities as well as the adoption of structured tools was also brought up as enabling for collaboration.64 67 72 110 112 114 127 | |
| Sharing relevant information | The need to share relevant information among actors and adoption of agreed communication channels.54 66 72 83 92 106 125 127 | |
| Resources | Allocation of required resources (including funding, time, snacks for meetings, technical support and training materials).61 74 76 82 90 106 119 127 |