Resource Library

Outreach NGO Sustainability

The Private Sector Project for Women’s Health works to improve the health of women in Jordan, especially for reproductive health and family planning, breast cancer and domestic violence. Nancy Natilson visited Amman, Jordan from March 15 – 28, 2008 to conduct a needs assessment and business planning workshop for PSP-Jordan’s two outreach partners, Circassian Charity Association (CCA) and General Union of Voluntary Societies (GUVS), in order to build their capacity to improve sustainability. The consultant spent several days with the senior staff of each NGO to identify institutional strengths and weaknesses and to develop recommendations to improve the sustainability of the projects.

Based on the assessment, the consultant also recommends longer term sustainability initiatives, which include attempting to diversify revenue sources, finding strategic partners, increasing operating efficiencies and addressing other weaknesses that were uncovered in the assessment and the workshop. Recommendations to address these weaknesses include:

• On-going financial management: Implement the discipline of monthly financial reviews complete with a variance analysis comparing actual figures with budgeted figures, focusing on operating efficiencies, and monitoring of cash flow.
• Governance: Develop an engaged Board that is involved in strategic decisions and to whom the Project Director reports; if the existing NGO structure does not provide this kind of oversight, explore the possibility of creating an advisory board.
• Performance review: Formalize the process with appropriate formats and policies and procedures at all levels.
• Succession planning: Increase management depth and invest in training deputy directors and delegating responsibilities.