Beyond benefits realization: towards a framework for sustaining and enhancing project benefits

Purpose This study examines the processes of benefits sustainment and enhancement in non-governmental organization (NGO) projects, emphasizing their critical importance for ensuring long-term value creation beyond project delivery. Design/methodology/approach This study utilizes semi-structured interviews with high-level decision-makers in NGOs to understand the concepts of benefits sustainment and enhancement as well as how these concepts manifest in practice. Findings The study identifies eight themes categorized into three core dimensions underpinning benefits sustainment and enhancement: strategic foresight and purpose, synergistic stakeholder collaboration and a prospecting mindset coupled with sustained governance engagement. These dimensions highlight the importance of adaptability, stakeholder co-creation and iterative governance in navigating the complexities of dynamic project environments and ensuring long-term impact. Practical implications The study provides actionable insights for NGO leaders and project managers. It emphasizes the need for enduring governance systems, stakeholder collaboration and adaptability to evolving contexts. The findings can inform strategies for enhancing project sustainability and long-term social impact in dynamic and resource-constrained environments. Originality/value This study extends the discourse on benefits realization to the important but underexplored stages of benefits sustainment and enhancement. Drawing on projects-as-practice and dynamic systems theory, it highlights the importance of adopting a complex adaptive systems approach at the “back-end” of projects and develops a novel framework that captures the interplay of strategic foresight, stakeholder collaboration and sustained governance engagement in ensuring long-term project value.