Partner Alignment & Conclusion Policy

DEP 3 thrives on active, transparent, values-aligned partnerships. Because partnerships in DEP 3 are owned by the DAOs, each DAO applies this policy to its own partners and makes its own decisions under it. This baseline keeps the treatment of partners fair and consistent across the program.

1. Purpose

Partners are expected to contribute in line with:

• the partnership scope and timeline agreed with the DAO (see the Partner Collaboration Timeline);
• the DAO's own partner guidelines and the program's shared expectations; and
• DEP's core values of decentralization, transparency, and collaboration — including communicating in the DAO's name and not misrepresenting the relationship with Kambria (see Partner With Us).

This ensures fairness, accountability, and respect for all parties.

2. Grounds for review

A partnership may be reviewed if any of the following occur:

• Prolonged inactivity without notice — for example, no engagement in the agreed activities for a full phase.
• Repeated failure to follow the agreed timeline or deliverables.
• Misalignment with DEP values, including public misrepresentation — for example, claiming ownership instead of partnership, or presenting Kambria as a party to, guarantor of, or endorser of the partnership.
• Misconduct such as unethical behaviour, discrimination, or breach of trust.
• Misuse of the DAO's or Kambria's name, branding, or communications.

3. Review and communication process

The DAO runs and decides this process itself:

1. Initial check-in. The DAO contacts the partner to clarify the issue and offer support to realign.
2. Improvement period. The partner is given up to 2 weeks (or one program phase, whichever is longer) to address the concern.
3. Final review. If there is no improvement, the DAO may adjust the partner's role and commitments, place the partnership on hold, or conclude it.

The partner is always told the reason before any change is made. Once the DAO has decided, it notifies its DAO Facilitators so the collaboration network listing is updated.

4. Effects of conclusion

If a partnership concludes:

• the partner's name and logo are removed from the Collaboration Network and the DAO's materials (the DAO notifies its DAO Facilitators to update the listing);
• the partner's access to that DAO's partner channels, calls, and documents ends;
• ongoing collaborative activities are formally closed or reassigned.

People who joined through the partner keep their accounts, contributions, and history. Concluding a partnership never penalizes the individuals it brought in.

5. Reinstatement

A partner who has addressed the reasons for conclusion may seek to partner again — with the same DAO or another — in this or a future cohort. Decisions consider the DAO's needs and the past collaboration.

6. Respect and professionalism

All communication under this policy is conducted respectfully. The goal is always alignment and improvement first; concluding a partnership is a last resort, used only when the collaboration is no longer mutually beneficial — and the partner is always told the reason first.