Managing Humanitarian Projects → Project management

Project management

A successful project achieves the agreed outcomes for clearly identified beneficiaries within the available resources (time, budget, people, materials).

Effective project management relies on continuous monitoring of risks, needs, the emergency context and emerging changes.

Project cycle management

Assessment & analysis: Research situation prior to the crisis Understand impact of the crisis Identify capacities and vulnerabilities of the affected population i.e. stakeholder analysis	Design & resource mobilisation Engage with affected communities Facilitate investigation of the problem Consider and prioritise potential solutions i.e. problem tree analysis Enable appropriate targeting Identify resource needs /sources Develop a planning / log framework
Monitoring & Evaluation Monitor progress & results throughout project against project indicators Adjust activities and resource as necessary. Review and assess results in relation to objectives.	Implementation Mobilise/reach Agreements with target communities Recruit staff and partners Tendering, procurement and contracts Logistics and transport Manage finances and assets

Project cycle management

Assessment & analysis:

Research situation prior to the crisis
Understand impact of the crisis
Identify capacities and vulnerabilities of the affected population i.e. stakeholder analysis

Design & resource mobilisation

Engage with affected communities
Facilitate investigation of the problem
Consider and prioritise potential solutions i.e. problem tree analysis
Enable appropriate targeting
Identify resource needs /sources
Develop a planning / log framework

Monitoring & Evaluation

Monitor progress & results throughout project against project indicators
Adjust activities and resource as necessary.
Review and assess results in relation to objectives.

Implementation

Mobilise/reach Agreements with target communities
Recruit staff and partners
Tendering, procurement and contracts
Logistics and transport
Manage finances and assets

A successful project manager needs to...
Manage scope	Project size, goals and requirements (time and money). Avoid overlaps. A Logical Framework Analysis will support this.
Manage resources	People – having right people with right skills with right tools in right numbers at right time, and ensuring they know what to do. Equipment – having right equipment in right place at right time. Materials – making sure the right supplies arrive at the right time
Manage time	Schedule Tasks - what are the tasks, how long will they take, what resources are required, in what order should they be done?
Manage costs	Budget & expenditure – estimated, actual, variability Contingencies: e.g. weather, suppliers, design allowance

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The Stages of the cycle are not separate – there will be continuous review and adjustment within each stage and between them.

This requires well defined and understood procedures from the project beginning.

Learning is central to the project cycle to inform on-going management and timely and appropriate modifications in design and implementation.

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Plan Your Work

then

Work Your Plan

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In order to stay within your budget, to meet your schedule, and to manage the scope of the project – continually monitor your project.

Don’t allow the project scope to increase without first adjusting the budget and timeline to match.

Additional Resources

A Project Cycle Managment and Logical Framework Toolkit – 2005 [full details]

NGO Manager Library - Project management

Project Cycle Management Guidelines – Copyright EuropeAid cooperation Office Belgium 2004 [full details]

Project Schedule Management – PM4DEV

This page was last updated on 9 June 2011