Scientists report that we have less than a decade to prevent the worst effects of climate collapse. Educators say we’ve lost years of learning in the past two years. And, a recent survey my organization partnered on found that nearly 90% of food security experts predict that without innovative action, global hunger will continue to rise for at least the next decade. Projections are similarly grim in other fields. So, what gives me hope?

Our report found that two-thirds of those experts believe achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030 is still possible with new approaches. Those changes can take many forms, and I’m particularly optimistic about the potential for partnerships to help us advance critical goals.

As NGO leaders, this imperative plays to our strengths. We know how to collaborate, and we know how to connect with communities. Now, we should accelerate efforts to enhance those skills and adaptive leadership capabilities to more systematically develop partnerships designed to address the real challenges we face.

Studies show that people don’t believe business is doing enough to address societal problems. Yet, leading companies are stepping up in a wide range of ways, using their purchasing power, employment practices, corporate voice, and tradition of philanthropic giving for good. What inspires me most are initiatives that go beyond donations to forge multifaceted and deeply transformational partnerships, such as Danone’s partnership with Grameen to provide yogurt enriched with essential nutrients for kids and communities in Bangladesh.

Governments have long turned to the voluntary sector to advance shared goals for social good. This can take many forms. In some cases, governments contract with nonprofits to deliver essential services. For example, New York awards money to nonprofit providers to deliver critical programs and services.

Nonprofit collaborations can help accelerate implementation of existing road maps, scale best practices across geographies, drive service efficiencies and foster innovation as we attack problems together.

Read the full article about partnerships by Charles E. Owubah at Forbes.