Cross-cutting Issues

And other things your project document must include

The design matrix addresses…

• Results: goal, purpose, specific objective(s), outputs

• Activities• Inputs, including costs → budget• Indicators & means of verification• Pre-conditions, assumptions, risks

Matrix does NOT cover:• Background, setting, trends (context/situation analysis)• Justification of the project – why have one?• Process of project formulation – who was involved• Identification & analysis of stakeholders• Details of approach % methodology• Institutional / organisational setting, including

institutional network• Proposed management structure• Personnel qualification requirements / CVs• Reporting and feedback … more?

Other cross cutting issues like…

• Gender implications and effects• Likely impact on the environment• Climate change aspects• Implications for organisations and institutions• Impact on poverty, poverty reduction• Post-project period sustainability –

organisational, financial, technical

Think about….

• What is important to the decision-makers• What will appeal to the financiers• What will get support of beneficiaries & losers• What will make the project easier to

implement and manage

Check your project as a whole for:

Relevance: Are we doing the right thing? • (context, problem analysis, stakeholder analysis,

objective analysis),

Feasibility: Are we doing things right?• (activity plan, resource planning, indicators of

objective fulfilment)

Sustainability: Will the results last?• (analysis of risks and assumptions)

Different types of project descriptions

• Direction for internal (departmental) projects• Terms of Reference: direction for external

projects• Direction for research: response to calls for

proposals• Tenders: proposals for executing others’

projects.Tune your focus & emphasis according to type.

Internal projects

• Often do not need major attention on background & justification – the leadership already knows this;

• Be very clear on the information on situation before, during and after introducing change;

• Emphasize benefits in terms of better work processes, happier employees, more satisfied clients;

• Emphasize higher productivity & efficiency to leadership.

Project document as ToR for consultants

• Make background and expected results VERY CLEAR

• Make sure you have clear statements about personnel requirements – not number but functional qualifications

• Make consultant-client-financier relationships very clear

Project document for research

• Make the value / benefits of the research results very clear;

• Explain methodology fully in plain language;• If non-academics will evaluate the proposal, make all

methodological terms understandable;• Give attention to monitoring, evaluation & feedback

mechanisms – (who will use it? How will they know about it?);

• If applying for funds in a competitive process, follow ALL instructions carefully.

Project document in tendering

• Make sure you have understood the expected results;

• Give clear description of approaches and methodologies;

• Show how proposed staff meet required competence levels;

• Show clearly how the client and beneficiaries will be involved throughout;

• Have clear communication strategy.