Section 01: Introduction

What is the toolkit about?

This toolkit demystifies the process of strategic planning for smaller NGOs. The aim is to make strategic planning become more meaningful, alive and achievable. It highlights the key components and essential approaches that INTRAC has found useful in our 30 years practical experiences of doing strategic planning with NGOs.

Who is it intended for?

This booklet is a complement to training and mentoring to respond to the needs of small UK-based international development organisations, as part of the “Strengthening Small Organisations with Big Ambitions” project. However, it can be used by any small NGO; those who make grants to partners and those who implement work directly with communities on the ground.

How should it be used, and what for?

Do read this booklet before embarking on a strategic planning process. It should help in thinking through the overall approach as well as signpost to useful tools. We know from our efforts at home improvements, that the most important things are the skills, understanding and attitudes of the person using the tools. So we strongly recommend you focusing on the principles and processes of strategic planning, not just the tools.

In his February 2022 blog "The tyranny of tools", INTRAC Principal Consultant Rod MacLeod wrote about the risks of over-reliance on tools.