Course Summary:

The Advanced Training in Strategic Planning course by Magna Skills is a high-impact professional programme designed for senior managers, planners, policy-makers, NGO leaders, project directors, and public-sector executives responsible for shaping organisational direction and long-term development priorities. The course provides participants with advanced strategic thinking tools, analytical frameworks, planning models, and execution techniques used in leading institutions worldwide.

Through practical exercises, African case studies, and real organisational scenarios, participants learn how to diagnose challenges, design effective strategies, build realistic action plans, allocate resources efficiently, and measure long-term performance. Magna Skills equips leaders with the skills to drive institutional transformation, strengthen decision-making, and deliver sustainable results in complex and rapidly changing environments.

Course Objectives:

• Apply advanced strategic analysis tools to diagnose organisational challenges and opportunities.

• Design comprehensive strategies aligned with institutional vision, mission, and long-term goals.

• Develop realistic action plans, resource allocation strategies, and risk-management approaches.

• Strengthen decision-making, strategic foresight, and leadership influence across teams.

• Implement monitoring, evaluation, and performance measurement systems for effective execution of strategies.

Course Outline

1. Foundations of Advanced Strategic Planning

• Understanding strategic planning within modern public and NGO environments

• Key principles: vision, mission, values, and long-term institutional alignment

2. Strategic Analysis Tools and Frameworks

• SWOT, PESTLE, GAP analysis, and problem-tree diagnostics

• Identifying drivers, constraints, and systems-level issues

3. Strategy Formulation and Scenario Development

• Multi-year strategy development and scenario modelling

• Prioritising high-impact interventions and strategic options

4. Setting Strategic Goals and Objectives

• Writing SMART, measurable, and actionable strategic objectives

• Aligning organisational goals to national, regional, or donor frameworks

5. Action Planning and Operationalisation

• Translating strategies into clear, step-by-step action plans

• Defining responsibilities, timelines, milestones, and performance indicators

6. Resource Mobilisation and Allocation

• Budgeting for strategy implementation and long-term sustainability

• Leveraging partnerships, donor funding, and cross-sector collaboration

7. Strategic Risk Management and Mitigation

• Identifying strategic risks and early warning indicators

• Developing mitigation strategies and contingency plans

8. Leadership and Strategic Decision-Making

• Leading teams through change and strategic transformation

• Decision-making under uncertainty and complex environments

9. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Strategic Reporting

• Tracking progress through KPIs, scorecards, and dashboards

• Preparing strategic reports for executives, boards, donors, and stakeholders

10. African Case Studies and Practical Applications

• Real-world examples of successful strategic planning across African institutions

• Developing a strategic plan framework tailored to participants’ organisations