Master Course MANAGEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT 2011/12 Guidelines for the project preparation

Your project will be equivalent to the thesis of the master degree. The project must be developed in teams of two persons.

Specifications for the Final Project Document

Implementation period of the project: max 2 years Budget: max 1 Mio. USD/ 1 Mio. Euro Any project document model can be used. It is recommended to use the EU project document model (c.f. PCM Manual) or ILO SPROUT format. It must in any case contain the following basic project information i.e. Summary Section Background Sectoral and Problem Analysis (incl. Problem and Solution Trees, feasibility analysis) Project Description Assumptions and Risks Potential donor and linkage to the countrys development p lan and donor assistance strategy Implementation Arrangements Monitoring & Evaluation arrangements In annexes: The Log-Frame Matrix The problems and objectives analysis (trees)

 A timetable Budget Length: 15 20 pages without annexes

Criteria of evaluation will include

Idea: Quality, relevance, feasibility, link to country/regional/local strategy, impact through the project on economic and social development and job creation Analysis: depth of problem and solution analysis, quality of feasibility analysis ( technical, financial, institutional, environmental, gender, sustainability), consideration to different solutions, arguing the particular strategy, its merit with respect to alternatives. Cost benefit analysis is not required. Proper use of project management tools: quality Log-Frame, institutional framework, link to context, scheduling, pricing (including contingencies) Proper selection of monitoring/evaluation indicators Presentation style in the final presentation to the examination panel

Preliminary Project Idea

As a first step to developing the project, you will be requested to team up in groups of 2. Then you will submit a short preliminary idea outline of 0,5 page. This small text should give an idea of the problem situation, geographical location, possible project purpose, beneficiaries and stakeholders as far as you know. This very initial project idea will allow Mr Jadoun and the PM tutor Claudia Oehl to give you feedback and direct you in case there may be problems with the feasibility of the project idea. There is no mark attributed to the preliminary project idea.

The SPROUT
Following this first exchange of ideas, you will write and submit a SPROUT (Summary Project Outline, which is an ILO internal format, c.f. attachment). The purpose is to give you a scheduled early guidance in your overall project preparation process. You will get formal feedback from the Project Management Tutor on the basis of which you can structure the following stages of the work. Also the SPROUT carries no mark but is an opportunity to receive in-depth guidance towards enhancing the feasibility and structure of you project work. The SPROUT should have a max. length of 5 pages and include a problems tree and solutions tree; the log-frame matrix is optional at this stage. Otherwise, the parameters for the final project should be respected.

Project Preparation Calendar

28 February 16 March Project work explained by Mr George Jadoun and Claudia Oehl Project teams agree on collaboration and project idea and submit one paragraph explaining the idea to Mr. George Jadoun and Ms. Claudia Oehl with copy to Ms Tiziana Grassone (t.grassone@itcilo.org)

28 March

Comments on the ideas from Mr. George Jadoun and Ms. Claudia Oehl and written feedback on first project ideas in writing from tutor Claudia Oehl SPROUTs to be submitted to Ms Claudia Oehl with copy to to Ms Tiziana Grassone Written comments from Ms Claudia Oehl Tutorial on SPROUTs, with Mr. George Jadoun and Claudia Oehl Full-time team work for project preparation, consultation appointments with Claudia Oehl for any questions and problems. The final project to be submitted to Ms Tiziana Grassone in 9 hard copies and electronic format (MS Word, Excel, MS Project) Preparation of the presentation in powerpoint of flipcharts / supporting (audio-)visual aids Project Presentation to panel of scientific directors and tutors

25 April

6 May 11 May From 16 May

28 May

29 May 31 May

1 - 2 June

Advice on the Preparation of the Project

These are no rules, only hints on how to organise yourselves. You will work in teams of two. Past experience shows that it is important that you get on well within the team because towards the end of the project preparation you will find you are very much under stress. Therefore, do not only loo k for the perfect project idea but look for the perfect partner. It has also proven that one student from a developed/fresh graduate together with one student from abroad make for a good mixture of experience, which is important for writing a good project. Make a plan for your work, which you can fit into the calendar given above. Do not forget the time you need to study for exams. Do include enough time for editing towards the end no writing until the last minute! You will need to check all different parts of the document for coherence and English language, and you should allocate enough time for formatting the document. A good layout of the document may not increase your marks but it can make the reading more attractive. Finally allow enough time for copying everything there will be a rush at the photocopier towards the deadline During the whole course, do not hesitate to talk to your professors and ITCilo staff about the project idea they can give you useful advice.