Introduction to Project Management

NGO and development work is almost always organized as projects — activities with a defined goal, timeline, and budget. Understanding basic project management helps any role run smoother, from field officer to program coordinator.

• Project lifecycle: Design/planning → implementation → monitoring → evaluation → closeout.
• The project triangle: Scope, time, and budget are connected — changing one affects the others (e.g. adding scope without adding budget/time causes strain).
• Stakeholders: Donors, beneficiaries, partner organizations, and government counterparts each have different needs and expectations that a project must manage.
• A simple workplan lists activities, responsible people, and deadlines — the backbone of keeping a project on track.

Practical Skill: Choose a real or realistic community project (e.g. a borehole repair, a school supplies distribution) and outline its lifecycle stages and key stakeholders.

=== SIMPLE PROJECT WORKPLAN === Project: [e.g. "School Supplies Distribution — Rumbek"] Activity                  Responsible     Deadline      StatusIdentify beneficiaries    Field Officer   Week 1        Not startedProcure supplies          Logistics       Week 2        Not startedDistribute supplies       Field Team      Week 3        Not startedCollect feedback          M&E Officer     Week 4        Not startedWrite final report        Coordinator     Week 5        Not started Key Stakeholders:  Donor: _____________________________________________  Beneficiaries: _____________________________________  Partner organization(s): ___________________________  Government counterpart: ____________________________