Programme transition planning
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The detailed programme transition plan should list the activities that are required to transition the grant and the timeline.
It should include the following:
- all activities needed for transitioning the grant management from UNDP to one or more national entities
- if the transition plan is integrated with a capacity development plan, details of the capacity milestones to be achieved that will allow transition of specific activities or full functions to sustainable country systems
- risk mitigation activities to improve resilience of systems and to minimize the risk of moving services, in particular to avoid disruptions in treatment
UNDP has example transition plans from carrying out transition in multiple counties, which outline activities to develop strong country systems and support transition processes and can be adapted for the country context.

The process for programme transition planning
Confirm the timing of transition planning
Organize the transition planning process
Set up management arrangements
Identify milestone indicators, transition scheduling, and risks
Develop an estimated budget
Conduct integrated reviews
Move toward implementation
Activities to be included in the programme transition plan
The focus should be on:
- establishing and staffing a dedicated department or a cross department unit that will manage the grant in the future organization
- development of operations manuals and SOPs covering all aspects of grant implementation such as finance, reporting, asset management, procurement, etc.
- ensuring the new grant manager has suitable software to manage finances, to collect and verify data, and to ensure a functioning LMIS which meets national requirements
When preparing the transition plan, the outgoing and incoming grant managers should clearly identify their respective responsibilities with respect to outstanding contractual commitments, implementing partner agreements, etc. including:
- Staff Contracts: The new grant manager may want to keep experienced staff and will need to transfer their contracts to the incoming Principal Recipient.
- Contracts with pending delivery of goods: If the outgoing grant manager has contracts for the procurement of goods, which have not been delivered yet, they will remain responsible for receiving and transferring the goods. Arrangements should be put in place jointly with the new grant manager to ensure that goods are received and transferred.
- Programme records: The outgoing grant manager must provide the incoming one with full access to the programmatic and financial records for the grant. Arrangements should be made to ensure that all key programme information is communicated to the new grant manager to allow them continued access to the records.
- Implementing partner agreements: For partners who will continue implementing programme activities under the new grant manager, it is essential that there is no interruption in their contracts during the transfer. The outgoing and incoming grant manager need to coordinate this, either through a transfer or assignment for the new recipient, or a simultaneous termination with execution on an agreed date.
Setting up a new programme management unit
The new grant manager will need to outline the implementation structure for managing the grant early in the transition plan, to ensure clear roles and responsibilities, and to enable the timely recruitment and training of key positions in the national entity to support a smooth transition.
Ideally, to strengthen the national systems, the grant management should be integrated within the existing national structure and systems. However, with a new grant some countries decide to set up a dedicated programme management unit (PMU) to manage the grant in its early stages during and after transition. A dedicated PMU can ensure a clear focus on the new grant activities and help to support a smooth transition, but setting up a PMU, particularly within national ministries of health, can create parallel systems for managing different donor grants.
Factors to consider when deciding on the new structure:
- what roles are required to manage the grant?
- can these sit within the current organisation structure?
- if a PMU is to be set up. how will the staff liaise with their full departments: for example, how will the M&E officer within the PMU liaise with the overall health information system team to share information and to strengthen systems?
- can staff working within the old grant management organization be transferred to the new grant management unit to ensure transfer of skills and institutional knowledge?
- should the new PMU be set up to manage the grant during transition and then for the first one/two years of the grant before being integrated within the full organization?
These points signal that certain capacity has been achieved, showing that the national entity is fully prepared to take responsibility for that activity or area. Although timelines should be set to achieve these milestones, they can be flexible.
The first transition milestone in each operational area is usually to put in place procedures, and systems, with sufficient training and “on the job” support to meet donor requirements. The second milestone for each functional area will then measure the level of use of the systems. For example, following the development of new financial reporting templates, the second milestone measures the percentage of provincial medical departments submitting financial reports on time using the new templates.
Key resources
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Transition Framework The sustainable transition or handover of the Principal Recipient (PR) role from UNDP to one or more national entities can be one of the results of a capacity development process.XLSX 0.1 MB
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Transition Plan Template This tool is designed to note the capacity of potential PRs and to detail activities that need to take place before transition to a new Global Fund PR can fully occur.XLSX 0.1 MB
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Transition & Systems Development Planning Tool This tool is detailing milestones and activities that need to take place before transition to a new Global Fund Principal Recipient (PR) can fully occur.XLSX 0.1 MB
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Transition Plan Narrative Report Template This template was created to strengthen the Capacity Development and Transition Planning in the Health Sector.DOCX 0.1 MB
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Example Objectives and Milestones for Transition Objectives for financial management systems, procurement and supply management, monitoring & evaluation, and project governance and programme management.DOCX 0.1 MB
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Example Capacity Development for Transition Activities Activities for areas such as management mechanism, human resources set-up, legal, systems and procedures, financial management and monitoring & evaluation.DOCX 0.1 MB
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Belarus Case Study Summary - The Belarus Process Case Study of the Transition process of the Global Fund Principal Recipient in Belarus.XLSX 0.1 MB
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Process for a Sustainable Transiton in Iran Case Study on the transition of the tuberculosis grant in the Islamic Republic of Iran.DOCX 1.1 MB
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Transition Milestones Examples The transition milestones were developed to measure the successful implementation of the Transition of the PR to national entities.DOCX 0.5 MB