Project Cycle Management

Project Cycle Management and How To Write A Good Proposal Eng. Suhail and Ayman Sultan Palestine Polytechnic University Ramallah – April 9 2006

Project Cycle Management

Programming phase: Analyzing the situation at the national and sectoral level to identify problems, constraints and opportunities. This involves a review of socio-economic indicators, taking into consideration the national and sectoral priorities. Identification phase: Identify ideas for projects and other actions for further study. This involves consultation with the intended beneficiaries of each action, an analysis of the problems they face, and the identification of options to address these problems.

Formulation phase: Relevant project ideas are developed into operational project plans (ex. LogFrame) Beneficiaries and other stakeholders participate in the detailed specification of the project idea that is then assessed for its feasibility and sustainability. Financing phase: There is a need to prepare a forecasted budget (direct and indirect costs) based on activity based system.

Implementation phase: The project is mobilized and executed. This require the design of an implementation plan.  Monitoring phase:  The systematic and continuous collecting, analysis and using of information for the purpose of management and decision-making. Evaluation Phase: The sixth and final phase of the project cycle during which the project is examined against its objectives, and lessons are used to influence future actions.

How to Write and Formulate a Project Document Major Points: 1-Summary of the Project. 2- Background ( Statistical Data on the Sector/Institution). 3- Identification Of the Project ( why?) 4- Logical Framework Approach (LFA). ( General Objectives, Project Purpose, Results & outputs, Activities, etc…) 5- Target Group 6- Sustainability. 7- Implementation Plan (methodology, activities, time, resources, …. 8. Risk and risk management 9- Estimated Budget.

We will just talk here about the LFA as a Project Design and Analysis Tool The LFA is an effective technique for enabling stakeholders to identify and analyze problems (cause – effect relationship), and to define objectives and activities which should be undertaken to resolve these problems.

The Overall Objectives of the programme should explain why the programme is important to society, in terms of the longerterm benefits to beneficiaries and the wider benefits to other groups. The Project Purpose should address the core problem, and be defined in terms of the benefits to be received by the project beneficiaries or target group as a result of utilizing the services provided by the programme.

The Results (outputs) describe the services to be delivered to the intended beneficiaries or target group, and it should be possible for project management to be held accountable for their delivery. The Activities - how the project’s goods and services will be delivered.

Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) OVIs describe the project’s objectives in operationally measurable terms, & provide the basis for performance measurement. The specification of OVIs acts as a check on the viability of objectives and forms the basis of the project monitoring system. Once the indicator has been identified, it should then be developed to include brief details of quantity, quality and time (QQT), and location.

Indicators: An example Objective: Education status improved Set quality (the nature of the indicator): Enrollment rates increased in this program Set target groups (who): women enrollment rates increased... Set place (where): .... in northern province . Set Quantity (how much): .... from X to Y .... Set Time (when): .... by the year 2006

Ensuring Sustainability A project can be said to be sustainable when it continues to deliver benefits to the project beneficiaries for an extended period after the main part of the donor assistance has been completed.

Estimated Budget

Unit Cost

Amount

Activities/Task Activity 1: Purchase office equipments

10000

a. Office furniture

1050

5000

b. Office equipments

4400

5000

C Laboratory furniture

4500

1000

Activity 2: Local consultants

5000

Thank You