SGC Catalyst Model Collaborative Governance

Overview

This model describes how formal community-level collaboratives can create ongoing accountability to communities and support their pursuit of future funding.

Collaborative governance empowers individuals with multiple and diverse viewpoints to participate meaningfully in decision-making. When coupled with mechanisms to ensure diverse representation, accountability, and institutional support, collaborative governance can reshape the power structures that have led to the historical and ongoing marginalization and exclusion of communities of color and populations with low incomes . Collaborative decision-making can help S tate and other funding entities deliver resources in ways that are aligned with specific community needs and concerns, leading to more efficient, effective, and equitable outcomes for communities and programs.

This model details critical elements to support effective and equitable collaborative governance structures that can restore trust in State institutions and improve the ability of governments to enact policy and provide services that best improve outcomes and quality of life for all residents.

Outcomes

• State investments made through the Tribal Government Challenge and the newly announced Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program initiate long-term community resilience and transform power structures to enable community access to funding and ongoing community-led change.
• SGC’s Regional Climate Collaboratives Program strengthens local coordination, leadership, knowledge, skills, and expertise, focusing on increasing access to funding for project planning and implementation. Round 1 funded six collaboratives of cross-sector partners to build capacity with and within under-resourced communities.
• Over eight funding rounds, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program has developed a robust guideline update process that combines engagement with partner State agencies, extended public comment periods, interactive webinars, and meetings with advocates, TA providers, and past and prospective applicants.
• SGC’s Transformative Climate Communities program has helped build new partnerships among diverse communities in Los Angeles, leading to greater community trust and involvement in local governance structures and processes.

Elements

The key components of this model