The team understood MSD principles well. The challenge was applying them consistently to implementation decisions. As the programme moved from inception to delivery, decisions about intervention design partner negotiation and adaptive management were often guided by judgment, rather than explicit MSD analysis. The team needed coaching to help them navigate their day-to-day implementation challenges and apply MSD principles in practice.
Who we worked with
UNIDO intervention teams, Kenya and DRC
Format
Monthly team sessions / Weekly one on one sessions, delivered over a 10 month period
What we did
We designed a demand-driven coaching model anchored in the team’s current implementation challenges. Coaching was organised around the decisions and problems teams were actively facing. The objective was not to provide answers, but to strengthen the team’s ability to apply MSD principles and make better decisions independently. Support was provided when it was most relevant and included:
- Coaching clinics focussed on specific challenges such as a stalled partner negotiation, a results chain assumption not holding, or a facilitation choice in the field.
- One-to-one leadership coaching for intervention managers navigating complex or sensitive situations.
- Competency assessment and individual development planning to identify capability gaps and focus coaching support.
- Structured peer learning facilitation that enabled teams to reflect on experience, challenge assumptions, and learn from each other.
What changed
- The team began applying MSD principles in real implementation decisions — testing the will and skill of potential partners before engagement, revising results chain assumptions in response to field evidence, and bringing a stronger systemic perspective to partner negotiations.
- Decision-making became more deliberate and analytical. Teams increasingly used MSD concepts and evidence to assess options, challenge assumptions, and adapt interventions as implementation realities changed.
From the client
“Springfield’s coaching significantly strengthened my ability to apply MSD principles in real time. By contextualising the realities of the project area, I was able to develop practical strategies and concept notes grounded in local market dynamics. The participatory approach — where each session began with my own priorities — fostered ownership and positioned me at the centre of the learning process. Rather than providing ready-made solutions, the coach guided me to analyse challenges critically and make informed decisions. This strengthened not just my technical understanding of MSD, but my leadership and strategic thinking too.’’
Francis Anno Ekiru, Feed and Fodder Interventions Lead, Maziwa Faida Project – UNIDO Kenya
Want to discuss how we can help you?
Contact our coaching team to discuss your specific coaching needs and we can tailor a package that suits you and your organisation. Get in touch to find out more about how the process works and indicative pricing.