The purpose of this paper is to analyse a topic that represents a concrete illustration of how philosophy, politics, and economics are interconnected on a practical level. Partnerships between corporations and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) seeking to promote sustainable development draw on themes derived from all three disciplines. They challenge how we traditionally think about the role of business in society and toward its stakeholders; they change how the for-profit and non-profit sectors conceive of each other and how they interact with one and other; and they influence how we analyse the idea of international developmental aid and the effectiveness of policy- making strategies.

Corporate-NGO partnerships can be formed and implemented in different ways. It is difficult to evaluate the number of partnerships currently in existence, because many are formed between small local businesses and community groups and are not publicised.

Additionally, partnerships can often involve other actors beyond NGOs and corporations such as local or national governments, international development institutions, or privately funded non-profit entities (such a philanthropic foundations), which makes them more complex to analyse. This paper focuses on partnerships that attempt to promote development in a sustainable and ethical manner, for the stakeholders in developing countries of large corporations that carry out business internationally.