Training Course on Strategic Planning for Non-Profit Health Organizations

Module 1: Introduction to Strategic Planning in Non-Profit Health Organizations
Understanding Strategic Planning
Definition and purpose of strategic planning in the non-profit health sector.
Differences between strategic planning in non-profit vs. corporate settings.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Crafting statements that reflect community needs and organizational aspirations.
Aligning mission and vision with donor priorities and public health goals.
Environmental Scanning in Healthcare
Identifying internal strengths and weaknesses.
Analyzing external opportunities and threats (funding landscapes, policies, regulations).
The Strategic Planning Cycle
From analysis → formulation → implementation → evaluation.
Interactive Activity: Review and refine an example mission and vision statement for a health NGO.

Module 2: Stakeholder Engagement and Needs Assessment
Identifying Key Stakeholders
Donors, local communities, health ministries, NGOs, patients, and staff.
Mapping stakeholder influence and expectations.
Needs Assessment Approaches
Surveys, focus groups, health data analysis.
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) in planning.
Inclusivity and Equity
Engaging marginalized groups in the planning process.
Ensuring culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive approaches.
Consensus Building
Negotiating priorities among diverse stakeholders.
Conflict resolution strategies in collaborative planning.
Workshop: Conduct a mock stakeholder mapping and develop a needs assessment plan for a rural health clinic.

Module 3: Strategy Formulation and Goal Setting
Frameworks for Strategy Development
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal).
Theory of Change for non-profits.
Setting Strategic Goals
Developing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives.
Balancing mission-driven goals with donor/funding requirements.
Strategic Focus Areas
Service delivery (primary care, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, etc.).
Advocacy and policy influence.
Resource mobilization and sustainability.
Scenario Planning
Preparing for funding cuts, policy changes, or health crises.
Exercise: Draft 3–5 strategic goals for a hypothetical maternal health non-profit.

Module 4: Implementation and Resource Alignment
Linking Strategy to Operations
Translating strategic goals into action plans.
Assigning responsibilities, timelines, and resources.
Resource Mobilization
Fundraising strategies (grants, partnerships, donations).
Building diverse and sustainable funding streams.
Human Resources and Capacity Building
Recruiting and retaining skilled staff.
Volunteer management and staff development.
Donor Relations and Accountability
Aligning donor requirements with mission.
Transparent reporting and building trust with funders.
Case Study: Implementation challenges in an NGO rolling out a maternal and child health initiative with limited resources.

Module 5: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptation
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks
Designing indicators for health outcomes, efficiency, and impact.
Using KPIs to measure program and organizational performance.
Data Collection and Reporting
Quantitative vs. qualitative methods.
Reporting progress to funders and stakeholders.
Adaptive Management
Making course corrections in response to external changes.
Incorporating feedback loops for continuous improvement.
Sustainability and Future-Proofing
Embedding resilience in strategic planning.
Building long-term partnerships and institutional memory.
Capstone Project: Create a 3-year strategic plan outline (mission, goals, action plans, and M&E framework) for a sample non-profit health organization