12: Ending the mentoring program
This module is closely linked to Module 6 – Monitoring and evaluating the mentoring program.
After reading this section you should:
● understand the importance of closing the formal relationship between mentee and mentor
● be able to help mentoring pairs to celebrate their achievements and share learning.
Key questions to ask yourself
How much time is available for the closing meeting between mentees and mentors?
What resources are available for the closing meeting?
What are your evaluation objectives? How can the closing meeting support the achievement of those objectives?
12.1 Closing meeting formats
The closing of the mentoring program is just as important as the opening. It’s a chance to celebrate the learnings and achievements of mentees, thank the mentors for the energy they have given, share what has been learned, and discuss next steps.
Some mentees may not feel they have achieved anything, or that they have failed. It is important to make them feel that this is normal and it is okay to feel this way. But as long as they can share what they have learned, then there is cause to celebrate!
The format you choose for the closing meeting will depend on your mentoring approach, design constraints, and available resources. It should also align with/support the evaluation approach (see Module 6 – Monitoring and evaluating the mentoring program). Some options you might consider are presented in Table 9.
Note: the one mentoring approach that may not include a closing meeting is event-based (events-only) mentoring.
Table 9: Options for closing meeting formats
Format
Relevant mentoring approach
Description
Pros
Cons
Resources
Workshop
Face-to-face
Face-to-face meeting that normally goes for 2 to 3 days and focuses on celebrating successes, reflecting on lessons learned, and next steps
All mentees and mentors are included
Enables mentees and mentors to feel valued, which encourages them to participate in future programs
May deepen evaluation findings
Big time commitment, particularly for mentors
If not designed and facilitated well, participants may feel it is not a good use of their time
Webinar
Face-to-face, event-based, online
A 90-minute virtual meeting with all the mentees and mentors
Easier commitment for busy mentors to make
Less time commitment required from mentoring coordinator
Can be difficult to get people in remote areas to join
Conversations with mentoring pairs
Face-to-face, event-based, online
Calling or emailing individual mentoring pairs to honour their achievements, commitment, and learnings
More personalised approach, able to be tailored to pairs
Time intensive for the mentoring coordinator
12.2 Graduation
Graduation is normally the final part of the closing meeting. Whether the graduation takes place at a venue in your capital city, or you do a virtual graduation by webinar, consider inviting donors and partners to hear the stories of transformation of mentees and mentors, which may inspire them to get involved in a future program. How you present those stories is up to you – you could have mentees prepare a poster with their key achievements and learnings and/or have a selection speak – but be creative!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a graduation without certificates! See the certificate template in the Resources section of this module. You can give them out at the graduation, or email/post copies to participants.
12.3 Staying in touch
Many mentees and mentors ask us if they are allowed to stay in touch when the formal mentoring period concludes. We encourage them to discuss this with their mentor/mentee and, if both agree, to set some informal agreements about how they wish to continue.
Your evaluation approach may also include following up with mentees and mentors a number of years after the program has ended. You may be surprised how many have decided to stay in touch and do amazing things together!
12.4 Debriefing
It’s very important the program team gets time to celebrate their achievements and reflect on their learnings. This may need to happen separately to the mentee and mentor workshop and graduation. Make sure this is part of your M&E process.
Take action!
Resources
Stories
Fiona, Young Agripreneurs Project, talking about how her team linked a closing webinar into their final evaluation process
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