How can you create a responsive strategic plan for community coalitions?

1 Assess your situation

Before you start planning, you need to understand your current situation and the context in which you operate. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze data about your coalition's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), as well as the needs, assets, and interests of your community. You can also review your coalition's history, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. This will help you identify the gaps and priorities that your strategic plan should address.

2 Define your direction

Based on your situation assessment, you can define the direction that your coalition wants to take in the next few years. You can articulate your vision, which is the desired future state of your community; your mission, which is the purpose and scope of your coalition; your goals, which are the broad outcomes that you want to achieve; and your objectives, which are the specific and measurable results that you want to accomplish. You can also develop your core values, which are the principles and beliefs that guide your coalition's actions and decisions.

3 Choose your strategies

Once you have defined your direction, you need to choose the strategies that will help you achieve your objectives. Strategies are the approaches and methods that you will use to address the issues and opportunities that you have identified. You can use various criteria to select the most effective and feasible strategies for your coalition, such as relevance, impact, cost, sustainability, and alignment with your vision, mission, and values. You can also consider the potential risks and challenges that might affect your strategies and how to mitigate them.

4 Monitor and evaluate your progress

To ensure that your strategic plan is responsive and accountable, you need to monitor and evaluate your progress regularly. You can use indicators, which are the measures and data that show how well you are achieving your objectives and implementing your strategies. You can also use tools and methods to collect and analyze feedback from your stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries about your coalition's performance and impact. This will help you track your results, learn from your experiences, and make adjustments as needed.

5 Communicate and engage your stakeholders

A responsive strategic plan is not a static document that sits on a shelf. It is a living and dynamic tool that requires constant communication and engagement with your stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries. You need to share your strategic plan with them and invite their input and participation in its development and implementation. You also need to report on your progress and achievements and celebrate your successes and milestones. This will help you build trust, transparency, and ownership among your coalition members and supporters.

6 Review and update your strategic plan

A responsive strategic plan is not a one-time exercise. It is an ongoing process that reflects the changing needs and realities of your community. You need to review and update your strategic plan periodically, at least once a year, to ensure that it remains relevant, effective, and aligned with your vision, mission, and values. You can use the data and feedback that you have collected and analyzed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your strategic plan and make improvements as necessary.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?