New Thinking, New Funding Options
Many health organizations around the world face resource challenges which might include difficulty attracting new funding streams or lacking the capacity to plan, program, and account for increases in resources. Other organizations require a broader understanding of their client needs for current services. The Business Planning for Health (BPH) program is designed to support nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in their efforts to meet these challenges. The BPH helps them to prepare and present compelling business plans, enhancing their organizational capacity in this critical area.
The process of developing business plans helps an organization to think like a dynamic, market-driven enterprise. This market-focused thinking and action can transform operations and help an organization rapidly respond to changing client needs. As traditional funding sources dwindle, the BPH approach can help organizations to diversify and be more proactive as they seek funding for their initiatives.
What is the BPH?
Business Planning for Health Program enables organizations to systematically assess their existing services and products, their management systems, and organizational practices and think creatively and realistically about ways to meet client needs. In the past, ideas carried out by NGOs have often been shaped by donors and other external parties that provide the funding. This program encourages organizations themselves to generate innovative ideas based on market research and client needs.
The BPH covers topics such as:
- capturing and packaging breakthrough ideas,
- identifying target markets,
- developing marketing strategies, and
- financial aspects of a business plan
The tools, techniques, and worksheets supplied during this learning experience simplify the complexities of business planning, while helping participants balance their enthusiasm with market realities. Well-crafted business plans help open the door to foundations, corporate-giving programs, philanthropists, and donor agencies that seek to support health and social services.
How it works
The BPH was designed as a comprehensive blended-learning program, using both face-to-face and electronic methodologies — an approach well suited to busy health organizations with restricted resources. The BPH starts with a one-week orientation workshop, after which participants return to their work places. They then use the BPH CD-ROM to draft sections of their business plans, while consulting via e-mail with an assigned reviewer. A team of three to six people from each organization writes the business plan, soliciting help from others as needed. The reviewers function as coaches, addressing questions and concerns as the participants finalize the sections. The program is currently available in English, French, and Spanish.
By the conclusion of the program, participants have a complete draft of a business plan and the ability to sell their new product or service to investors. Through the program’s six modules, participants will have acquired the skills to:
- Describe their organization’s mission and strategic position
- Identify a breakthrough idea
- Analyze the potential market and develop a marketing plan
- Assemble a design and implementation team
- Estimate financial needs
- Project social and financial return on investment
Program Partners
To scale-up the BPH and offer it throughout the developing world MSH, under the Leadership, Management and Sustainability Program, has been training Program Partners to deliver the program. After receiving extensive facilitator training from MSH staff, Program Partners are equipped with:
- BPH CD-ROM
- BPH Toolkit CD-ROM, which includes the Facilitator’s Guide, the IT Guide, the Evaluation Tools, and other resources
- BPH Marketing Package CD-ROM, which includes a BPH promotional brochure,
- Photo essays and a slide show describing the BPH
- Mock-up Participant Binder
The goal is to prepare Program Partners to promote and deliver the BPH to organizations working to improve public health in their region. MSH’s role is to provide updated materials, learning aids, and market leads to the partners.
