Strategic Planning
I have helped UN agencies; Government ministries and a variety of organizations develop and operationalize their strategic plan. This has greatly helped to clarify the organization’s plans and ensure that key leaders are all “on the same page”. While delivering a consensus yet meaningful document, I have always tried to emphasize the strategic planning process itself and ensured its transfer of this know-how to the organization.
Highlights
Geneva Health Forum’s transformation from an event into a global partnerships program.
UNICEF’s engagement with the private sector in Malaysia
Resource Mobilization and Outreach 2002-2005, ECMI, Germany
Up-streaming UNICEF’s program portfolio for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
Public and government engagement, ASPS, Australia
Facilitated the development process, consensus building and drafting of
National HIV AIDS Strategic Plan 2006- 2011, 2005, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
National Emergency Preparedness Plan for Avian Influenza, 2006, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Strategic Plan for National Program on Harm Reduction, 2006, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Strategic plan for HIV prevention work with Faith Based Organizations in Kedah state, Malaysia
Operationalized the Strategic Plan 2008-2012 of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgery, 2008-09
What?
Sector
Where
When
With Whom
Sector?
Refugees, Humanitarian Emergencies
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Republic of Macedonia
Why?
Within the first ten years of its existence, two major refugee influxes impacted the Republic of Macedonia. Support of the international community helped the country cope gracefully with these humanitarian emergencies. Acknowledging the inherent volatility of the region, it was vital that the know- how generated in the country in dealing with displaced populations is institutionalized and capacity be built systematically for emergency preparedness.
When?
2000, 2001
What Exactly?
I conducted a needs assessment and a mapping of potential partners. I then developed the project proposal and fundraised with donors to set up the Center for Refugees and Forced Migration Studies (CRFMS) at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. The aim of the Center is to become a leading regional resource center in its field; to foster a regional network of similar research centers and to promote standards of excellence in research on Refugee and Forced Migration related subjects. Set up with seed funding from UNHCR, I led vigorous fundraising andexpandedthe portfolio of donors. Ialso set up and mentored the project management team of the centre. The project was implemented from February 2000 to September 2001.
With Whom?
UNCHR
What Happened?
Set up of an active, well functioning research centre on refugee and forced migration issues
Established a wide portfolio of donors thus enhancing the sustainability of the centre
Management staff was trained to take over the management of the centre
Well functioning resource center with a specialized library
Internationally networked program on refugee studies was established
Adviser, Human Rights & Democracy
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Department for Europe, Division for South Eastern Europe.
Sector?
Women, Child Rights, Hiv Aids
What?
Dialogue Management, Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
It was clear that Malaysia could not address HIV AIDS effectively without a national strategy in place. In turn for the National Strategy to be effective it needed to not only be a consensus document but also collaborative arrangements of implementation would need to be foreseen in the concept and planning. The HIV AIDS landscape in Malaysia as in many other countries was deeply fragmented and finding ways to bridge the fissures required the support of a party like UNICEF, which had a stake in addressing the issue but not in the power play that happens in every country when it comes to HIV AIDS.
When?
2005, 2006
What Exactly?
The UNICEF Representative in Malaysia Gaye Phillips tasked me to come up with a strategy on bringing the movers and shakers in the HIV AIDS arena and find entry points to engage with them. I conducted a rapid nationwide mapping exercise meeting with key players and understanding their perspectives. This helped create common grounds to launch a consensus process for drafting the national strategic plan. I supervised the work of consultants brought in to support specific technical inputs and worked as one team with the HIV AIDS division of the Ministry of Health.
Adopting the first national strategic plan was a huge success for Malaysia because it paved the way for a fully budgeted HIV AIDS program to be launched by the government. The plan also provided a platform for collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector.
While UNICEF’s Representative ensured that there was strong political backing for UNICEF’s support to the process and to my services being made available, the intelligence and expertise of Indra Nadchatram were unmatched. With Gaye, Indra and our Malaysian counterparts we worked around the clock with a sense of urgency of the epidemic.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management, Malaysia
What Happened?
Malaysia’s first National Strategic Plan (2005-2010) was adopted, budgeted and implemented.
Adviser, Department for Europe
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sweden
Sector?
Global Health
What?
Dialogue Management, Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Switzerland
Why?
The Geneva Health Forum is not just another conference on health. By looking to the future, it brings vision and thrives on all participants’ unique experiences and in depth insights on topics and initiatives generated and implemented all over the world. At the GHF it is believed that pooling intelligence will bring value and challenge common ideas to explore new territories of frethinking and build on inter-sectorial approaches to solving the problems of our time.
The Geneva Health Forum is not just another conference on health. By looking to the future, it brings vision and thrives on all participants’ unique experiences and in depth insights on topics and initiatives generated and implemented all over the world. At the GHF it is believed that pooling intelligence will bring value and challenge common ideas to explore new territories of freethinking and build on inter-sectorial approaches to solving the problems of our time.
When?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
What Exactly?
I mapped, negotiated and implemented a three-tier partnerships strategy for the sustainability of the Geneva Health Forum (Content, Thematic and Geographic partnerships). This involves establishing Public-Private partnership arrangements without jeopardizing credibility. More about the GHF can be read on it’s website www.genevahealthforum.org
With Whom?
HUG, Swiss Ministry
What Happened?
Over the last four years the reach of the GHF has multiplied and it has established itself as an important event on the global health calendar. It attracts close to one thousand practitioners, academia and policy makers to Geneva to search for solutions in health.
Sector?
Civil Society
What?
Strategic Planning
Where?
Australia
Why?
An elite medical association in Australia had adopted a new Strategic Plan. Its implementation had hit an invisible roadblock. I was retained to help generate understanding and support for the Strategic Plan and find entry points for its implementation. A membership that spans three generations seemed to be pulling in three different directions, while the organization was loosing its policy clout.
When?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
What Exactly?
Through my consulting practice ProCubeI developed a comprehensive communication strategy that would in a step-by-step way engage internal and external audiences of the organization.
With Whom?
What Happened?
Enthusiastic and comprehensive support for the new Strategic Plan and for the senior management was generated. The organization has moved from one strength to another and continues to implement many of the processes introduced by Sunoor
-Sunoor Verma
Sector?
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning
Where?
Australia
Why?
400 members of this peak medical body are spread out in Australia. Each state has its own peak body, which in turn compose the peak national body. Finding a way to bring the membership together in an engaging and productive way seemed important for keeping the organization viable.
When?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
What Exactly?
Through my consulting outfit ‘ProCube Consultancy Services’,I developed a comprehensive external communication strategy that would in a step-by-step way engage external audiences of the organization. Identifying the web as the key platform for communications with external stakeholders a new intelligent and intuitive web site was developed. Twenty Video snippets which present the strengths of the organization were produced by ProCube and are available on-line to members.
With Whom?
What Happened?
Manifolds increase in the informed engagement of members that was expressed through different channels of contact.
Co-Founder
Geneva Health Forum
Sector?
Child Rights, Hiv Aids
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
For many years UNICEF had partnered with the Government of Malaysia to deliver numerous and effective grassroots initiatives. With the rapid strides Malaysia made in development and achieved a middle-income country status, it was felt that UNICEF could advance the well being of children in Malaysia more effectively by becoming an upstream partner of the government. UNICEF’s then executive director Carol Bellamy had hand picked the dynamic CEO of UNICEF Australia Gaye Phillips to set in a Malaysia a model of engagement with middle-income countries.
When?
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
What Exactly?
In 2005, UNICEF’s Representative appointed me to link the organization’s HIV AIDS programs to a meaningful communication strategy.
In addition to developing a comprehensive strategy on up-streaming UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program in Malaysia, key Strategic Communication products were developed:
Video documentary- “Women in AIDS”: Conceptualized this video documentary to celebrate and document the contribution of women from various walks of life in the fight against HIV AIDS in Malaysia. This video galvanized support from the Govt. of Malaysia and the donor community for UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program.
Video documentaries- Conceptualized video documentaries on joint projects of UNICEF & Ministry of Health that reflect the impact of good partnerships. These included the video capsules on ProStar Youth Initiative (Peer counseling), Village Health Promoters and Youth & Drugs. Youth volunteers for UNICEF in Malaysia filmed the films.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management, Ministry Of Women
What Happened?
UNICEF became the partner of choice of the Malaysian government on HIV AIDS
Expert, Civil Society Development
Mercy Corps