User:Sidie.Sheriff

I. DEFINITION OF A PROJECT For the purpose of this training, a project can be defined as any donor-funded development undertaking that has clearly defined objectives, strategy, type, beneficiaries, duration, location, cost and perfomance indicators and verifiers. In terms of sequence, a project generally goes through three phases, namely, preparation, implementation and post-implementation. This presentation is intended to induce discussions and interactions around these attributes and phases of a project in the hope of transferring to the trainees the skills required in and of a project cycle.

II. ATTRIBUTES OF A PROJECT Attributes are elements of identity. When all the elements that identify and typify a given thing or situation or phenomenon are put together they become unique to a given definition of that thing or situation or phenomenon. As we have mentioned above, for a project to be called a project it must have clearly defined attributes which are its objectives, strategy, type, beneficiaries, duration, location, cost and perfomance indicators and verifiers. In any project, we should endeavour to look for such attributes and understand them within the given context(s).

III. PHASES OF A PROJECT We have mentioned that in terms of sequence, a project generally goes through three phases: preparation, implementation and post-implementation. Project proposal development is part of the project preparatory phase. Project management is part of the project implementation phase. Project reporting, monitoring and evaluation are parts of the entire cycle of a project.

IV. PROJECT PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT As mentioned, project proposal development is part of the project preparatory phase. Here it is both the question of knowing what is expected in a project document and of it. Some donors usually make available a format or guide to those who design a project application document. Responding such a format or guide is merely responding to what is expected in a project document. The project application writer or developer should also know how such a document would be scrutinized or appraised before approval. This constitutes knowing what is expected of a project proposal or application.

V. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Project management is part of the project implementation phase. This involves the organization of human, financial and material resources of a project to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, synergy and output.

VI. PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION Project monitoring and evaluation take place throughout the project cycle. While monitoring usually involves measuring progress in process, evaluation measures on the quality of progress. Progress can mean achievement of input, output, outcome and impact. Indicators are those which tell whether or not progress is taking place whilst verifiers confirm that they have or have not taken place.

VII. PROJECT REPORTING Project reporting can take place during and after project implementation. Reporting formats vary with the context, subject and purpose of reporting. The formats for progress or status reporting can be different from terminal or summative reporting. The former accounts for what is being done whilst the latter accounts for what has been done in the project’s work. Reporting formats depend on which aspects of the issues and events being considered in the report need emphasis.