Project Plan Guidelines
Guidelines for Preparing a Project Plan for Review by PTF:
The Project Plan builds on the approved Concept Note to provide the details of project design. It describes thoroughly but succinctly project objectives, planned activities (inputs), planned outcomes (outputs) and anticipated results (impact). The narrative portion of the Project Plan is normally limited to five-ten pages. Additional materials required include: a detailed schedule of activities (plan of action), a detailed budget by activity and type of expenditure, a log frame; and a monitoring plan. Each of these pieces should be viewed as “living” documents, amenable to change and improvement, in agreement with PTF, as project implementation proceeds.
The Project Plan should cover the subjects listed below.
a. Project Background and Justification
This part should describe the issues (problems) to be addressed through the project. It should provide detail (qualitative and quantitative as available) on the particular anti-corruption or governance problems to be addressed.
b. Project Objectives and Activities.
This section should present specific project objectives and describe the project activities designed to achieve each objective. Clarity in linking particular activities to targeted outcomes is important. While some activities may not have a direct impact on the problems addressed (for example, baseline and follow-up surveys) addressed, most activities should. The narrative section here should be supported in particular by the detailed plan of action for implementing the activities and the log frame.
c. Project Management and Public Sector Support.
This section should delineate who will manage the project (the CSO or CSOs, ideally in partnership with the relevant pubic sector authority or authorities) and describe the level and type of support received from the relevant public authorities. A critical component of any effort to reduce corruption is assurance from the relevant public sector authority(ies) that they support the project and its objectives. Formal agreement is one indicator of this support (for example, a letter from the head of the authority), but other other important measures of support should be described, for example, evidence of agency experience with anti-corruption initiatives or prior collaboration with the CSO
d. Project Monitoring.
A clear plan for monitoring project implementation and results should be included in the Project Plan. The key measurable indicators in the logframe, surveys and questionnaire results might all form tools for the monitoring plan, together with the action plan and the budget and expenditures tables. The monitoring instruments should permit the measurement (quantitative and qualitative) of interim as well as final project results while allowing for adjustments as needed.
Click to view Logframe Guidelines
e. Detailed Budget.
This section, in spreadsheet format, should present a detailed quarterly budget by activity and type of expenditure (planned and actual expenditures) over the project implementation period.
Preparing a Project Plan for PTF review and approval is generally an iteractive process – a give-and-take of ideas between the proposing CSO(s) and the PTF. The PTF’s advisers assist with the process by offering guidance and assistance at each stage of review with the aim of helping to improve the quality of, and chances for successful outcomes under the projects.