Project Management for NGOs

Project Management for NGOs
For most development organizations, project management has been reduced to the implementation of the technical activities designed as part of the project’s proposal for funding, while little effort is devoted to plan the over all management of the project. Project management is more than just implementing the activities identified in a log frame, it includes managing all the components that make up a project from its resources, risks and changes, to ensure that the project meet its objectives within the expected quality, schedule, and budget, at the same time of meeting the expectations of its stakeholders.

Development projects face many challenges that make the work more difficult; from extreme working conditions to volatile environments, were human or natural events can put the project at risk of not meeting its goals. Development projects face constant demands to do more with less, project managers are responsible to deliver outcomes in conditions were security risks are high and goods and services are limited. While at the same time development workers assigned to manage projects are often not sufficiently equipped with the necessary project management skills and are more interested in the immediate tangible outputs of the project rather than in the less tangible processes required to ensure that the project is managed effectively.

This complex project environment requires appropriate project management skills; it requires a new type of competencies from project managers that goes beyond a technical expertise. Project managers require the skills to manage limited budgets, to monitor shrinking schedules, and monitor unpredictable outcomes, while at the same time dealing with people and organizational issues.

All of these causes could be addressed by the application of project management tools and techniques. Applying a formalized project management framework, or methodology can help with clarification of objectives, identify the right skills, reduce the impact of risks, foster a focus on results, improve communications and increase the chances for success. It is through the effective use of a project management methodology that organizations can ensure a cost effective use of limited resources to achieve the planned objectives.

Training Objectives:
a) To make participants’ familiar with the concept of project management;
b) To improve participants’ ability to plan, implement and evaluate projects;
c) To offer hands-on experience in developing strategy, selecting mechanisms and honing the skills required to effectively implement projects
d) To provide the technical skills needed for planning.

Training Outcome:
After attending the training sincerely participants will be capable to:
a) Know about the different components of a development project
b) Know how to plan and implement the regular work of a project
c) Monitor a project and make necessary change for effective implementation
d) Manage an NGO project considering the Logical frame
e) Manage a team of NGO professionals for effective implementation of a project.