I had a brief correspondence with Chris Blackmore that made me think. The comment in particular was this:
I think there's also something interesting about whose and what purposes such communities serve and whose and what values underpin them, partly tied to who funds them. So when you say 'keep the fellows engaged and productive and promote their research' I'd be asking why as well as what and how.
In fact that uncovers one assumption i didn't know i had (though blindingly obvious once found!) - my starting point is that keeping the energy of the fellowship going after the fellowship ends is a given Good Thing. But perhaps it isn't. Perhaps it would be perfectly fine for the fellowship to end and the community, identity and so on that have been built to end there.
the belief among AWARD staff and donors is that it is necessary for the ripple effects of the fellowship program - so that it influences societall and institutional change. There could be other ways to influence the same.