The Effectiveness of Strategic Planning Support for Building Up the Capacity of the Small NGOs in Bangladesh

Because of the rapid rate of change of today’s world, it has become necessary for the NGO managers to keep their plans current through strategic planning. This study examines the effectiveness of the strategic planning support to the small NGOs and their beneficiaries. It was done within the context of small NGOs supported by donor agencies in Bangladesh. Qualitative method was used in the study. Data were collected between October to December, 1997 through interviews, focus group discussion, participant observation, literature review and a reflection upon my experiences. The strategic planning benefited the small NGOs in many ways: knowledge in environmental scanning was increased; mutual understanding among the donors, the implementing NGOs, and the community people was accelerated; linkages of the small NGOs with the professional NGOs were developed to upgrade the information system and technical capability. In particular, the strategic planning support helped the small NGOs in developing their skills to formulate strategic plan as well as created mutual understanding among all the stakeholders. Finally, the paper recommends that the strategic plans should be disseminated to all levels of the employees by involving all the stakeholders. In order to make the strategic planning support effective, participatory training methodology should be incorporated in assessing the needs of the community