Laying the foundations: Principles of a sustainable, successful transition from external donor funding
A report by RESULTS and STOPAIDS on the principles of a sustainable and successful transition from external donor funding.
Transition before a national government and other key stakeholders are ready, willing, committed and able to take over development programmes can lead to gaps in critical services for people and often the reversal of hard won development gains. Ensuring sustainable transitions that protect development gains and safeguards future development is the shared responsibility of multiple stakeholders including governments, donors, technical partners and civil society and the private sector. Planning for how to support a country that is transitioning away from support is integral to ensuring that the assistance given, sometimes over years and even decades, has a sustainable and visible impact.
The goal in any transition context should not be only to sustain coverage that has been provided through external financing and support, but to create conditions that will allow national governments to continue to maintain and expand coverage to reach those who are currently being missed and leave no one behind.