Winding Down a Country Office in India Without Blowback or Disruption

Winding Down a Country Office in India Without Blowback or Disruption

You’ve made the hard call: the program is ending, the funding is gone, and the country office must close. But you’re operating in a region where quiet exits rarely stay quiet. Vendors expect continuity. Staff expect fairness. And one poorly handled moment can turn a clean wind-down into a reputational hazard.

This case study is especially relevant if you are:

  • A director overseeing program closures in sensitive jurisdictions

  • A global operations lead responsible for in-country transitions

  • A legal advisor supporting wind-downs across multiple cultures

  • A funder or board member concerned about brand exposure

  • A stakeholder trying to preserve relationships, even during exit

Sometimes the risk isn’t staying—it’s how you leave.

This case study shows how Pholus helped a donor-funded organization close its India office without legal disputes, vendor issues, or reputational fallout. By prioritizing vendor settlement first, conducting culturally adapted staff communication, and coordinating a phased timeline across global and local teams, we ensured the closure was orderly, respectful, and complete.

If you’re facing the end of a program or office and want to preserve everything you’ve built—except the operational footprint—this case study may help guide your next move.

Download it now and read it quietly. You’ll know if it applies.

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