Title: Program graduation and exit strategies: Title II program experiences and related research.

POPLINE Document Number: 276707

Author(s):

Rogers BL
Macías KE

Source citation:

Washington, D.C., Academy for Educational Development [AED], Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project [FANTA], 2004 Apr. [45] p. (USAID Cooperative Agreement No. HRN-A-00-98-00046-00)

Abstract:

An exit strategy for a program is a specific plan describing how the program intends to withdraw from a region while assuring that the achievement of development goals is not jeopardized and that further progress toward these goals is made. The goal of an exit strategy is to assure sustainability of impacts and activities after the program has departed. "Exit" refers to the withdrawal of externally provided program resources (material goods, human resources, technical assistance) from the entire program area. "Graduation" refers to the withdrawal of resources from particular communities, program sites or program activities. The "strategy" is an explicit plan that includes the following: Specific criteria for graduation (of communities) and exit (of the program from the region); Specific and measurable benchmarks for assessing progress toward meeting the criteria; Identification of action steps to reach the stated benchmarks and of the responsible parties to take those steps; A time line, recognizing that the time line, especially in early stages, needs some flexibility; and Mechanisms for periodic assessment of progress toward the criteria for exit and for possible modification of the exit plan. This report is based on interviews with key individuals and reviews of the available literature on exit strategies and the experience of programs --- primarily USAID- PL 480 Title II food aid programs, which are required to include plans for exit in their Development Assistance Programs (DAPs). This review has examined specific Title II program experiences and strategies in India up to April 2003. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Research Report
Interviews
Government
Organizations
Community Participation
Nutrition Programs
Food Supply
Monitoring
Planning
Evaluation
Data Collection
Research Methodology
Political Factors
Organization and Administration
Primary Health Care
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Natural Resources
Environment