Understanding Project Management Project attributes o o o

Understanding Project Management

Project attributes o o o o The project has a purpose Project has a life cycle like an organic entity Project has clearly defined and agreed time constraints The project has cost constraints The project is complex and requires coordination No two projects can be precisely alike focused on target group’s (communities) expectations involves many unknowns within the work

Steps Involved In Project Planning and Management o o o Project Appraisal Project Planning and designing Project Implementation and Monitoring Project Evaluation Project Closure

1. Project Appraisal An appraisal is likely to be necessary when: o a new project has to be initiated o a programme has to be expanded or spread to other areas o starting work with a new partner o changing the direction of an existing programme. Various steps that are usually followed in project appraisals are: (a) Building an understanding on the issue (b) Set priorities (c) Summing of the problem

2. Project Planning and Designing Some key questions: o What development goal the project is expected to contribute? o What are the changes the project itself is expected to bring in the near future? o What will the project deliver? o Who the communities would be? o How their needs would be met through the project? o How the participation of the communities be ensured in order to reach at the goal?

-continue o o o o Which strategy would work best? Who would be the partners? What will be the responsibilities of those involved? What the project will do to make sure that products are delivered? What funds, expertise, are needed? When the work plans and progress reports be produced? What will be the monitoring and review procedures? When the evaluation would be carried out?

The Process o o o o Selection of the area and village Identifying resources and seeking collaborations and partnerships Assessment of partners Identifying ‘indirect’ partners and constituting an Advisory Committee Identifying the roles and responsibilities of each partner Developing a shared understanding on the goal and objectives of the project Developing an indicative action plan with activities outputs and inputs Developing a concept, plan and management structure for the implementation of the project

3. o o o Project Implementation Execution Ensuring regular monitoring and making appropriate changes in the plan It is useful to understand the monitoring in the following ways: (i)Designing a monitoring system (ii)Defining the aim of the monitoring Finalizing Indicators The collection and analysis of data

A good monitoring system is about good management. A good monitoring system should include the use of results, which could be for planning procedure, for institutional learning and for undertaking formal reviews and evaluations.

4. o o o Project Review and Evaluation Define purpose The evaluation and review can be of the following kinds: Participatory self-review and evaluation Independent review and evaluation Mid-term review and evaluation Terminal reviews and evaluation

The evaluations or reviews should be able to conduct a deeper analysis into: o o o Effectiveness of the project Efficiency Relevance: Sustainability Unanticipated effects Project management

5. Project Closure o o o Closure Ensuring sustainability linkages