This course explores a practical approach to strategic planning for humanitarian organizations operating in complex, uncertain, and rapidly changing environments. Participants will strengthen their ability to analyze humanitarian contexts and organizational capacities, engage stakeholders, set priorities and objectives, and develop strategies that are realistic, responsive, and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Grounded in humanitarian principles and quality, accountability standards, and competency-based approaches, the course emphasizes strategic decision-making in contexts where organizations must navigate competing priorities, operational constraints, risks, limited resources, and evolving humanitarian needs. Participants will explore how the perspectives of crisis-affected people, staff, partners, and other stakeholders can inform strategic choices and priority setting.

Through practical tools, humanitarian scenarios, and applied exercises, participants will work through key stages of the strategic planning process and develop or strengthen a strategic planning framework relevant to their organizational context. They will use approaches such as Theory of Change to clarify strategic pathways, assumptions, and expected outcomes, and explore how evidence, monitoring, stakeholder feedback, and contextual changes can support ongoing review and adaptation of strategy.