What is program sustainability?

Program sustainability refers to the capacity of a program to maintain its operations and deliver its intended benefits over an extended period, particularly after the initial funding or support ceases. This concept is vital in program evaluation because it ensures that the positive impacts achieved during the program's active phases can continue to benefit the target population long after the initial resources are exhausted.

Focusing on long-term benefits, sustainability involves not just ongoing financial support but also factors such as community engagement, stakeholder commitment, and the establishment of systems or processes that allow for continuous operation. A program that is truly sustainable will have mechanisms in place to adapt, grow, and flourish beyond its original funding sources, ensuring that its objectives remain met and that it can respond to changing circumstances or needs in the community it serves.

In contrast to the other options, which either emphasize limitations (such as indefinite expansion or measuring only short-term outcomes) or the simultaneous execution of multiple programs, the core of program sustainability is about enduring impact and continuous service provision.