Defining exit strategy in NGOs projects

1. EXIT STRATEGY
Khalid Saifullah

2. Defining Exit
 A programme exit refers to the withdrawal of
all externally provided program resources from
an entire program area.

3. Defining Exit Strategy
 A program Exit Strategy is a plan describing
how the program intends to withdraw its
resources while ensuring that achievement of
the program goals (relief ordevelopment) is
not endangered and that progress towards
these goals will continue.

4. Goal of Exit Strategy
 The goal of an Exit Strategy is to ensure the
sustainability of impacts aftera program
ends. It could also be defined in a broader
sense as a program’s “sustainability
strategy”.
 Without Exit Strategies, program transitions
and exits are likely to be more haphazard.

5. Possible Strategies
 Handing over programme to other
organizations in area
 Developing local organizations
 Sharing program objectives with other stake
holders
 Line departments

6. Few points to consider while
exit.
 How strong is the community’s sense of
ownership/commitment to continue program
activities?
 To what extent does the community value
program activities?
 Do community members have the knowledge
and skills needed to implement the program
activities?

7. Exit Criteria
 Time Limit
 Achievement of program impacts or
benchmarks

8. • Exit strategies should be built in the design of
programs from the begging.
• Ongoing and timely monitoring of benchmarks
is critical to the successful implementation of
Exit Strategies. The monitoring of Exit Strategy
benchmarks should, in fact, be integrated into
the overall program’s monitoring and
evaluation plan.
• For an Exit Strategy to be effective, it has to be
‘owned’ by the local partners/communities who
will carry the activities forward.