Sharper Donor Communication — Himalaya Relief Initiative

Target band B2 · 2 sessions

Draft for trainer review · 2026-06-24

Course outcomes

B1 Can produce a clear, connected situation report describing programme progress and key challenges in plain, factual language.
B2 Can write a focused donor situation report that leads with the key finding, supports it with evidence, and adjusts register for an external audience.
C1 Can structure a recommendation-first donor report, controlling hedging and diplomatic phrasing to handle sensitive programme data concisely.
B1 Can give a short, prepared spoken update in a donor coordination meeting and answer simple follow-up questions.
B2 Can deliver a clear, structured donor briefing, field most questions confidently, and summarise key data for a mixed audience.
C1 Can facilitate a donor meeting segment, mediating between field data and donor concerns by reframing complex information for a senior audience.

o1 → writing sample: In-class 150-word sitrep section from a field data prompt.
o2 → writing sample: Homework: full 300-word donor sitrep leading with the key finding.
o3 → portfolio: Revised, recommendation-first sitrep handling one sensitive point diplomatically.
o4 → performance task: 90-second spoken update from a cue card; one follow-up question.
o5 → performance task: 2-minute SCQA briefing; fields two questions from a donor role-player.
o6 → presentation: Final briefing handling a challenging question while protecting position and relationship.

Objectives

Can produce a clear, connected situation report describing programme progress and key challenges in plain, factual language.
Can write a focused donor situation report that leads with the key finding, supports it with evidence, and adjusts register for an external audience.
Can structure a recommendation-first donor report, controlling hedging and diplomatic phrasing to handle sensitive programme data concisely.

Flow

Warmer. Pair discussion (5 min): what feedback have you had on a donor report — or wished you had?
Input. Trainer contrasts a buried-recommendation opening with a recommendation-first one, and introduces the SCQA frame (Situation–Complication–Question–Answer).
Tasks.
- Un-bury the Recommendation B2 (pairs same level, 25 min)
- Hedge to Match the Data B2 (pairs mixed, 20 min)
Practice. Gallery walk: post your opening; leave one sticky-note comment on two others using 'The recommendation is clear / not yet clear because…'.
Homework. Take a real (anonymised) sitrep and rewrite the opening so the key point comes first. Bring both versions.

Objectives

Can give a short, prepared spoken update in a donor coordination meeting and answer simple follow-up questions.
Can deliver a clear, structured donor briefing, field most questions confidently, and summarise key data for a mixed audience.
Can facilitate a donor meeting segment, mediating between field data and donor concerns by reframing complex information for a senior audience.

Flow

Warmer. Swap homework voice memos; give one-sentence feedback on headline clarity.
Input. Three strategies for handling questions: buy time gracefully, bridge back to your message, acknowledge what you don't know without losing credibility.
Tasks.
- Relay the Field Update B2 (pairs mixed, 20 min)
- Simulated Donor Briefing B2 (plenary, 35 min)
Practice. Group identifies the three question-handling phrases that worked best and writes them on a shared board.
Homework. Record a 90-second voice memo briefing on a real activity. Listen back and note one thing to change.