Knowledge, Skills and Strategies
for Professionals

Course:

Effective Programme Disengagement (2 days)
Achieving programme and project sustainability

Course overview

Before phasing out humanitarian and development programmes or projects, it is crucial to develop a sustainable disengagement strategy to withdraw responsibly.

A disengagement strategy, also known as exit strategy, should be part of any programme or project plan. The purpose of an adequate disengagement strategy is to plan and achieve the sustainability of a programme after its end and to deliver to its stakeholders the expected results corresponding to the original program objectives.

The disengagement strategy planning course is addressed for both emergency and development programmes. This two-day course focuses on:
  • Ensuring sustainability of humanitarian and development interventions by developing and integrating an appropriate strategy and exit plan in project proposal development,

  • Developing monitoring and follow-up tools for the implementation of the disengagement plan of action,

  • For programmes or projects which need to be ended within a very short period of time: How to assess such situations and develop a fast-track approach with the involvement of all main stakeholders.
Click here to download the course leaflet (PDF format).

Who should attend

This course is intended in particular for:
  • Programme and Project Managers (incl. newly appointed)
  • Department Directors
  • Heads of Office
  • Heads of Operations
  • Project Team Leaders
How you and your organisation will benefit - Learning Objectives

On this course participants will be able to:
  • Identify key elements necessary to develop a successful disengagement strategy for a programme or project
  • Analyse and describe stakeholders' needs in this context
  • Define criteria for disengagement
  • Develop objectives and strategic options in disengaging from a programme or project
  • Select the best possible strategy and design a plan of action for its implementation
  • Develop monitoring and evaluation tools to follow-up the disengagement plan of action
Course programme

Day 1 Defining Criteria for Disengagement
  • Overview of Disengagement Strategy
  • Linking disengagement planning and sustainability
  • How to improve stakeholder involvement and commitment
  • Selecting among three approaches in exiting a programme
  • Defining criteria for successful disengagement
Day 2 From Disengagement Plan to Implementation
  • Developing disengagement objectives and strategic options
  • Fixing timeframes and stakeholder responsibilities
  • Establishing a plan of action for phase out period and handover
  • Implementing plan of action and meeting communication needs
  • Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the plan of action.


Individual consultations

Participants obtain an individual consultation from the trainer during or after the course on how to further develop a project of your own, or on another subject of their choice.

Course venue

Check the course dates at the NMS website for the updated list of courses. If there is no course in your country yet, your and your organisation can bring courses on NGO management directly to NGOs in your country rapidly and easily. For information about the partnership approach, the benefits for partner organisations and the three simple steps which are necessary to organize the first training course for NGOs in your community, please refer to the NMS website.

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