Programme management best practice

Successful programmes are based on clear set of programme principles, and are implemented and managed in a disciplined manner with strong research, planning and budgeting, monitoring and impact analysis. Produced by the International Save the Children Alliance, this manual builds on a long history of successful programme activity, and contains guidelines on best practice in governance, strong management and effective programme work. Although aimed at Alliance members specifically and those working on children-focused programmes more generally, its lessons are useful in a wider context.

The manual is meant to help build capacity and professionalism and serve as a resource to guide in the planning, implementation and evaluation of successful programmes. Its three principal sections are as follows: 

 1. Programme principles: these should reflect the organisation's overall mission. In the case of the        Alliance, this should include the rights of the child, Save the Children thematic areas such as education or HIV/AIDS and advocacy.  
In addition, the programme should develop its own set of principles such as:

• child focused
• empowering
• sustainable
• achieving scale
• measurable impact
  

 2. Programme methodologies: these can include:

• direct support
• working in partnership or in collaboration (with governments, civil society, children and child organisations, networks and coalitions)
• knowledge dissemination and capacity building
• advocacy and awareness raising
• research and analysis
• support to or direct involvement in monitoring processes

 3. Programme management guidelines using the project managment cycle as a framework. Phases consist of:

• Research
• Planning
• Implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Impact analysis

At the end of the manual, a Benchmarks section contains an easy-to-use checklist.
[adapted from the author]