From adversaries to allies: cross-sector partnerships for sustainability between businesses and civil society organisations—a systematic literature review and future research avenues

Partnerships between the corporate sector and civil society organisations (CSOs) for sustainable development are both a widespread global practice and a well-established research area, known for creating value and generating environmental and social impacts. Despite the maturity and popularity of this topic, there has been no recent comprehensive systematic review of the literature on these cross-sector partnerships for sustainability. We address this knowledge gap by providing an overarching and up-to-date understanding of the field and identify existing research gaps. Employing a six-phase systematic literature review process, we analysed 221 relevant journal articles selected from 7449 records across various databases. Two dominant themes with their corresponding sub-themes emerged: navigating partnership adventures and optimising partnership dynamics. These themes were explored using three different lenses: business, CSO perspectives, and their mutual perceptions. The review not only consolidates fragmented knowledge but also interprets how cross-sector partnerships are conceptualised, operationalised, and contested within the sustainability discourse. By identifying theoretical blind spots and emerging research directions, our findings offer a more refined understanding of how partnerships can reconcile institutional diversity and strategic collaboration in pursuit of sustainability.