Fundamentals of Project Management

• Defining projects
• Overview of project management
• The triple constraints in project management
• Functions of a project Manager
• The Project lifecycle

Project Identification and Design

• Context analysis
• Needs analysis
• Design of project intervention
• Development of project proposal
• Project appraisal

Project Set Up and Planning Phase

• Stakeholder management plan
• Project implementation plan
• Project management and governance structure
• Risk management plan
• M&E plan
• Project financial plan

Project Scope Management

• What is project scope?
• Project and product scope
• Use of work breakdown structure in scope definition
• Scope creep

Project Time Management

• Activity definition and sequencing
• Activity duration estimating
• Activity resource estimation
• Schedule development
• Optimizing schedule
• Schedule control

Project Resources Management

• Why is managing resources important?
• Managing project finances; budgeting, cost estimation, cost baseline, monitoring budgets and expenditures
• Project earned value analysis
• Managing the supply chain
• Human resources management

Project Implementation

• Launching the project
• Managing project Implementation
• RACI matrix
• Project tracking and adjustment
• Managing issues and risks

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitoring strategies
• Data collection for monitoring
• Tools for monitoring and performance measurement
• Change and schedule control

• Types of transitions
• Planning for closure
• Administrative and financial closure
• Project learning
• Evaluation

Project risk management

• Risk management planning
• Risk identification
• Qualitative risk analysis
• Quantitative risk analysis
• Risk response planning & implementing
• Controlling project risks

Project leadership and stakeholder management

• Understanding leadership & management
• Working in project teams
• The team development cycle
• Keys to effective influence & persuasion
• Improving communication, delegation & motivating Skills
• Managing stakeholders & stakeholder expectations

Introduction to Resource Mobilization

• Resource mobilization principles and practices
• Resource mobilization approaches
• Resource mobilization cycle
• Searching for funding opportunities
• Current funding environment for non-profit organizations
• Strategic planning and resource mobilization

Resource Mobilization Strategy

• Conducting a resource mobilization situation analysis
• Determining resource requirements and funding gaps
• Identifying sources of resources-donor and partner assessment and mapping
• Determining resource mobilization strategies
• Developing a resource mobilization action plan
• Enhancing donor partnerships and managing donor relations
• Putting together a resource mobilization strategy

Introduction to Proposal Writing

• Proposal writing in resource mobilization
• Understanding donors’ requirements
• Donor proposal formats and guidelines
• Project development and proposal writing
• Concept note, proposal and pitch deck
• Components of a funding proposal

Writing a Proposal: Introduction/background

• Context of the project
• Situation analysis
• Target beneficiaries

Writing a Proposal: Problem statement

• Description of the specific problem
• Target group affected by the problem
• Needs of the target group
• Consequences of the problem on the target group
• Use of cause-and-effect approach

Writing a Proposal: Project Justification/Rationale

• Descriptions of how the proposed project will solve the problem stated
• Explanation of why the project is required
• Explanation of how the project relates with other interventions
• Alignment of the project with the country’s and donor’s priority areas

Writing a Proposal: Project Design

• Project theory of change
• Design of project results using causal pathway
• Project activities; outputs and activities matrix
• Design of the logical framework
• Performance measurement framework

Writing a Proposal: Implementation Strategies

• Sub-tasks in activities
• Activities implementation approaches
• The 4 Ws in activity implementation

Writing a Proposal: Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitoring plan
• Evaluation plan

Writing a Proposal: Risk Management

• Risk matrix
• Risk response plan

Writing a Proposal: Project Management

• Project organogram
• Project coordination
• Partners responsibilities

Writing a Proposal: Cross Cutting Issues in Proposal Writing

• Gender mainstreaming
• Governance
• Environmental sustainability
• Human rights

Writing a Proposal: Work Plan

• Activity durations
• Predecessor successor relationships
• Developing a gantt chart

Writing a Proposal: Organization Capacity 

• Organization profile
• Organization capacity
• Relevant experience

Writing a Proposal: Budget Development

• Detailed budget
• Cost sharing
• Summary budget

Submitting the Proposal

• Funding agency forms
• Packaging, politicking and refunding
• Submission, traditional and online
• Tips for final checks

Proposal Review

• Proposal review criteria
• Proposal review process
• Grant agreement

Proposal and Report Writing Best practices

• Common mistakes during proposal writing
• Tips for successful proposal writing
• Case studies of successful proposals