Section 01: Introduction

1.1: What is this toolkit about?

This toolkit is designed to help small INGOs plan for and undertake exits and transitions from international partnerships with national civil society partners based in other countries. It includes resources for times when exits or transitions have been planned, and also for when there has been a crisis or change in strategy, and you need to exit or transition quickly.

It assumes that your INGO is already working with national civil society partners, and doesn’t cover how to approach the transition from being an operational INGO to working in partnership (e.g. following training and sponsorship to strengthen local capacity).

1.2: Who is it intended for?

This toolkit has been designed for small (0-3 staff), UK-based international development charities that are working in partnership with national civil society partners based in other countries. Other small not-for-profits with international partners may also benefit from these insights.

1.3: How and for what should it be used?

We don’t expect you to use the tools exactly as they appear here, but to adapt them depending on your context and ways of working, and on the type of partnerships you support. The key will be to use them in a way that’s appropriate and proportionate to your situation. Please feel free to adapt and innovate with them, together with your partners!

We recommend that you use this toolkit alongside your regular partnership and programme cycle management work. Many of the tools can be integrated into the different stages of a partnership and programme management cycle, to facilitate more responsible exits and transitions.

Definitions used in this toolkit:

Exit Typically, the withdrawal of financial and technical resources for a specific project, programme or partnership, but it can also refer to exits where funds aren’t involved e.g. ceasing joint advocacy activities together.

Transition

A shift in ways of working with a partner. Examples include: shifting from partners as project ‘implementers’ to ‘technical support providers’ or ‘network members’; creating a new independent ‘spin off’ entity with partners or an INGO localising its office.