Creating an inclusive global strategy to reach beneficiaries in 90 countries
Smile Train Success Story
Summary
Smile Train is the global INGO providing free cleft palate surgery and associated care throughout the world. Established for over 20 years, it had never had a formal strategy but decided to to embark on a strategic engagement and development process in 2019.
The =mc team worked initially onsite, and then as the Covid pandemic took hold we worked remotely to deliver two linked strategies on organisational issues and one focused on fundraising.
The programme led to a range of strategic and operational changes which have allowed the organisation to become more focused and significantly expand its operations in terms of a total care approach for beneficiaries.
If you’re interested in our free guide to strategy maps click here.
The Challenge
Smile Train is a US$100M INGO, headquartered in New York, but working throughout the world in 90+ countries — including some of the largest and poorest such as India, China, Kenya, Nepal and more.
They work through partners — mostly local hospitals — to deliver surgical support for children and young people needing cleft surgery , and through other agencies to provide longer term support such as speech therapy and mental health support.
How we helped
=mc developed a guiding coalition across key functions and nations which included key leadership figures to guide the strategic planning process. Though this group guided the process we were asked to ensure that the 100 strong team spread across almost 20 nations felt involved and engaged in the development of the process , while still allowing the leadership team to retain the right for ultimate recommendations to the board.
The process involved a number of =mc’s well established processes:
- Bringing in analysis of potential scenarios from work with other INGOs- enabling Smile Train to explore the developing global picture over the next 5 to 10 years
- Building with the communications team an online platform which would allow staff, volunteers, donors, and partners, globally to contribute ideas or challenges to the process
- Working initially with the whole staff team , and then laterally with the guiding coalition to develop a strategy map and complementary balance scorecard and implementation plan
The process which began simply and straightforwardly was then significantly interrupted by the impact of the coronavirus. This immediately meant that a number of on-site engagements had to move online. The =mc team managed this transition seamlessly.
The result is two linked strategies:
- An ambitious new global strategy which is designed to deliver significant improvement to service delivery targeted at beneficiaries and improvement in partner engagement
- A complimentary fundraising strategy with ambitious fundraising targets , again built with the team, that will power the improvement in service
The Impact
The new strategy was being rolled out in quarter one 2021 and will then be reviewed annually until the end of the five year cycle. Underpinning the strategy is significant investment both to improve the quality of the care provided to beneficiaries, and to ensure that the ambitious fundraising plans are deliverable.
Smile Train has already sponsored or supported more than 1.5M cleft treatments for people of all ages in 90+ countries around the world. It will reach 2M though this plan. You can track how the plan is developing through the website at www.smiletrain.org.
Free guide
If you’d like to know more about the Strategy Map methodology. You might be interested in this helpful step-by-step guide to strategy map development here.
Who else have we helped?
=mc consulting has worked with a number of complex international agencies on strategy development, often involving global engagement processes with a range of stakeholders. These include some global organisations such as: Amnesty International, World Animal Protection, UNAIDS, Smile Train, Sightsavers, Compassion in World Farming, International Development Law Organisation, International Ophthalmological Council, Frontline AIDS, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Christian Blind Mission.
We also have a strong track record of strategy work with UK organisations including: Royal Society of Medicine, University College London, Fight for Sight, Royal British Legion, Arthritis UK, and Alzheimer’s Research.
In the arts and culture sector we’ve worked with National Trust for Scotland, BFI Education Programme, Into Film, and the Actors Centre.
Next Steps?
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Clare Segal, Director
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