Switzerland: Certificate in Project Cycle Management (13 days)

This certificate course consists of the following modules:

• 31 Aug - 4 Sept.: Needs Assessment (5 days)
• 7 - 11 Sept.: Planning, Programming and Monitoring Projects (5 days)
• 16 - 18 Sept.: Evaluating Projects (3 days)

Package fee for the 3 modules (13 days):

• Non-OECD fee (early bird/regular): CHF 3,190 / 4,090
• OECD fee (early bird/regular): CHF 4,090 / 4,690

Each of the above modules can also be taken individually, leading to a course certificate per module.

Click here to download the course leaflet (PDF).

Course overview

The three modules in Project Cycle Management provide comprehensive training for beginners and advanced users. They will equip you with the essential skills, tools and good practices from the field to successfully manage projects in development cooperation and humanitarian work.

All modules follow a participatory approach based on case studies, with many exercises and facilitated discussions. This allows trainers and participants to bring in and share their experiences in the group.

Needs Assessment Whilst a good needs assessment does not necessarily guarantee a good project, no needs assessment almost certainly guarantees a bad one! Assessments are a vital element of the project cycle: they provide the information on which decisions will be made. This module enables participants to improve the quality of their needs assessment and therefore the relevance of potential interventions which may follow. It focuses on the various tasks to be done throughout the whole assessment process as well as techniques and tools used to improve the collection of information during interviews with stakeholders.

Planning, Programming and Monitoring Projects In this module, participants are first introduced to the Results-Based Management (RBM) concept and its application in project management. RBM focuses on the performance and achievement of objectives and is the dominant management strategy in use. Then, participants are working through the project planning and activities programming steps. The main tool used is the logical framework. It provides a structured model for identifying expected results as well as the activities and inputs needed to accomplish them. The course also provides additional techniques and tools to identify stakeholders, analyze problems, define objectives in line with population’s needs and program human, financial and logistic resources in an efficient way. Finally, participants discuss how to design and implement a proper monitoring.

Evaluating projects This course focuses on internal and external project evaluation and presents how these tools are used to measure and improve the performance of projects. Participants work step by step on the process of designing and performing an evaluation. After reviewing key management issues required to design an evaluation plan (i.e., Results-Based Management and Project Cycle), participants focus on the main concepts in the field of projects evaluation (i.e., founding principles, types and criteria).

The course then presents the phases and the steps of the evaluation process:

• Design phase
• Conduction of the evaluation
• Look into activities related to the communication and sharing of the findings

Who should attend

This course is recommended for:

• Project/Programme evaluators
• Project/Programme managers
• Key field staff involved in monitoring, review and/or evaluation
• Managers supervising project evaluation related activities
• People who wish to join the non-for-profit sector
• Consultants working for NGOs

Course approach

Emphasis is placed on “action learning” and each module features presentations, structured learning experiences, facilitated discussions, individual and group activities.

Registration and course fees

Registration and payment deadline: 24 August 2015. Early bird fee available for payments until 30 June 2015:

• Non-OECD fee (early bird/regular): CHF 3,190 / 4,090
• OECD fee (early bird/regular): CHF 4,090 / 4,690

Above fees are in Swiss francs (CHF) and include tuition, training materials and handouts, lunch and refreshments during course breaks, and a course certificate.

Online currency converter: CHF to USDCHF to EURCHF to GBP. These are indicative rates, provided by XE Currency Converter.

10% discount for returning students (within 12 months since the last course) or additional course participants from same organisation.

To register, please fill in the online registration form, or download the form and send it to us by email. For further inquiries, please contact us.