The GO Lab’s Leading Cross-Sector Partnerships programme returns in 2026
We’re delighted to announce that we’re now accepting applications to our 2026 Leading Cross-Sector Partnerships programme, delivered at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, from 12–15 May 2026.
We’re delighted to announce that we’re now accepting applications to our 2026 Leading Cross-Sector Partnerships programme, delivered at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, from 12–15 May 2026.
Today’s most pressing societal challenges, from refugee integration and education reform to climate resilience, cannot be addressed by government acting alone. Yet many public leaders report frustration with short-term, transactional approaches to partnership working that struggle to deliver meaningful outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Leading Cross-Sector Partnerships is a highly interactive, three-day programme designed to support public leaders to take a more strategic, outcome-focused approach to partnership design, contracting and management. The programme responds directly to challenges raised by practitioners working across government and its delivery partners.
Blending theory with practice, the programme explores the fundamentals of effective cross-sector collaboration through real-world case studies, simulations and peer-to-peer discussion. Participants examine how to balance formal contracts with strong relationships, embed impact measurement, and navigate organisational constraints related to procurement, audit and risk.
Participants will:
- Gain practical strategies for developing more relational partnership models
- Build frameworks and tools, including template clauses, to support successful partnerships
- Learn how to build coalitions for change while overcoming institutional and organisational barriers
The programme is open to mid-to-senior policymakers in strategic partnership roles, those preparing for roles involving public–private partnerships and social contracting, and senior leaders seeking a broader understanding of cross-sector collaboration and market stewardship. It also welcomes participants from philanthropy, the not-for-profit sector and the private sector who work closely with government.
Delivered in Oxford and facilitated by the GO Lab team at the Blavatnik School of Government, the programme offers an immersive learning experience grounded in cutting-edge research, global case experience and the opportunity to learn alongside peers facing similar challenges.
