Early Bird Registration: By 19 May 2008
Who is it for? The course is suitable for students or practitioners who are either involved or interested in working in the overseas aid sector. Particularly suitable for Project/Field Officers.
Course Description: This is a practical two day workshop which looks at the key elements of the complementary project management methodologies of Project Cycle Management (PCM) and the Logical Framework Approach (LFA). The former includes the three main stages of the Project Management Cycle, namely the Planning, Implementation and Post-project stages. The Planning Stage includes the key elements of project design, such as project identification, preparation and design, and appraisal and funding. The Implementation Stage includes the importance of ongoing reflection, management and administration, as well as the monitoring and evaluation framework. The Post-project Stage includes evaluations and how to best learn and incorporate lessons learnt.
LFA includes the classical breakdown of this methodology, this including the Background Situation/Mapping; Stakeholder Identification/Analysis; Identification/Ranking of Key Challenges; Development of Problem/Situation Tree(s); Development of Idealized Solution Tree(s); Identification/Selection of Preferred Strategies/Initiatives; Project Planning (including LF Matrix); Project Implementation (including LFA Review); Post-project Evaluation
This course is designed for practitioners involved in community development projects in both Australia and overseas, the former including work in both urban and rural settings. Reference will be made to successful projects carried out in each of these settings.
Course Content: The course will commence by some introductory comments on practical community development work in both Australia and overseas, and examples of projects from both scenarios will be used throughout the two days. Before commencing a systematic approach of both PCM and LFA, attention will be spent looking at core issues such as the setting of objectives, performance indicators and data sources.
Day 1 will then mostly focus on PCM, with Day 2 concentrating on LFA. Both days will include practical group work sessions relating to both of these methodologies.
Learning Outcomes: Following the workshop the participants will have a greater understanding of the complexity of community development projects, and yet at the same time will be more comfortable with using the two project methodologies covered (PCM/LFA) to tackle real life situations in the field.
Facilitator’s profile: Chris Piper is an experienced aid practitioner, involved in both humanitarian and development work in Australia and overseas. He both runs his own consultancy company, and for a number of years also taught graduate level development studies at a major Australian university. A qualified teacher and adult facilitator, he both carries out humanitarian assignments overseas on a regular basis, and also teaches project management and disaster risk management both domestically and overseas. He is the editor of the Australian Aid Resource & Training Guide.