Collaborating Against Human Trafficking

In the fight against human trafficking, cross-sector collaboration is vital but systemic tensions often undermine the effectiveness of these alliances. Kirsten Foot explores the most potent sources of such difficulties, offering insights and tools that leaders in every sector can use to re-think the power dynamics of partnering. Weaving together perspectives from many sectors including business, donor foundations, mobilization and advocacy, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith communities, and survivor-activists, as well as government agencies, law enforcement, and providers of victim services, Foot assesses how differences in social location (financial well-being, race, gender, etc.) and sector-based values contribute to interpersonal, inter-organizational, and cross-sector challenges. She demonstrates that finding constructive paths through such multi-level tensions by employing a mix of shared leadership, strategic planning, and particular practices of communication and organization can in turn facilitate more robust and sustainable collaborative efforts. An appendix provides exercises for use in building, evaluating, and trouble-shooting multi-sector collaborations, as well as links to online tools and recommendations for additional resources.