Project Management Fundamentals Project identification and design

Project Identification and Design Data collection Data analysis Project intervention logic Decision gates

The Purpose of Data Collection To broadly explore a wide variety of a number of issues providing information which, when analyzed, will inform priorities and identify interventions that will address the challenges in a target area Key concept: stay open minded!

Identifying Needs: Triangulation Felt needs: thoughts, dreams, “wants” of the community Expressed needs: identified through observation Comparative needs: compare to others’ situation Normative needs: evaluation based on professional standards

Types of Data Secondary data Primary data Method mixing is beneficial Qualitative data Quantitative data Method mixing is beneficial

Data Analysis: Current State What is happening now? Tools Vulnerability matrices Ranking exercises/prioritization Gap assessment analysis/service provision Focus groups/critical thinking Problem trees/cause-effect relationships

Data Analysis: Future State What will be different in the future? Community considerations Needs prioritization Other existing programs Appropriateness Institutional capacity Organization considerations Resource availability Feasibility and sustainability Program and portfolio “fit”

Project Intervention Logic Matrix Source: PMD Pro Guide

Project Intervention Logic Matrix Indicators: measure/observation of change Verification: source of indicators Assumptions: external factors which must be true to proceed from activities to outputs/outcomes/goals

Decision Gates Point of decision: proceed/modify/end Occur at regular intervals during the project Benefits Time and resource expenditure management Robust analysis of project concept Maintain focus Ensure original assumptions have not changed