Abstract
In the late 1990s, Oxfam America faced challenges and opportunities. A new strategic plan, Partnerships for Impact, called for focusing grant-making and partnerships in thematic areas in order to maximize impact and intensify advocacy for policy change. Changes in the Global Program Department (GPD) were necessary to align its capacity with the plan. Restructuring the department and devolving program leadership to the regional offices was a key change that drove other changes in systems and processes. This chapter reviews the evolution and implementation of the changes and assesses process and results. Devolution delivered benefits in program creativity. Lags in implementing supporting systems created stress during transition.