Six tips for delivering effective country programmes

This guide by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) provides six recommendations for funders and technical assistance practitioners on delivering effective country programmes to support climate compatible development in developing countries, based on CDKN's experience in 12 priority countries and the Caribbean.

• Country programmes are most effective when led and managed in-country, ideally by nationals. The leadership should consist of a country engagement leader who possesses strategic thinking skills, innovation, and deep knowledge of in-country policies and processes, supported by an in-country project manager and a knowledge management and communications resource person.
• A Theory of Change and Impact Pathway serves as a tool to communicate a programme's goals, assumptions, and the process of change to stakeholders. To maximize impact and ensure buy-in, these should be co-developed with key stakeholders and remain flexible to adapt to changing demands. A concise visualization of the Theory of Change is recommended to avoid the document becoming too cumbersome over time.
• Budgets should be aligned with the long-term goals and time frames of the country programme rather than annual cycles. Annual budget cycles often result in shorter projects with limited impact and a higher risk of prioritizing short-term political benefits over strategic long-term impacts.
• Local suppliers should be prioritized for project delivery. In cases where local technical expertise is unavailable, a combination of local and international suppliers is recommended to blend cultural knowledge with international expertise. When only international suppliers are used, country teams are essential for providing local context.
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) should be integrated into ongoing strategic planning and project delivery rather than being treated as an annual data-collection exercise. This process requires a dedicated knowledge management and learning resource person to facilitate the exchange of learning between local and global levels.

APA

Fitzherbert-Brockholes, S., & Norton, C. (2017). Six tips for delivering effective country programmes. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-Country_Programme_final_web-res.pdf

Chicago

Fitzherbert-Brockholes, Susannah, and Connie Norton. Six tips for delivering effective country programmes. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-Country_Programme_final_web-res.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fitzherbert-Brockholes |first1=Susannah |last2=Norton |first2=Connie |title=Six tips for delivering effective country programmes |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=October 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-Country_Programme_final_web-res.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fitzherbertbrockholes2017six, author = {Fitzherbert-Brockholes, Susannah and Norton, Connie}, title = {{Six tips for delivering effective country programmes}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-Country_Programme_final_web-res.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }