How to Write and Effective Proposal

PROJECT PROPOSAL

 

Please write the project proposal in a narrative form, keeping the given headings.  The bullet points under each heading should not be used as questions to be answered directly but are meant as guidelines to make sure all the required information is included.

1. Profile of Implementing Organization (not more than 300 words) 

·         Nature of implementing organization (NGO or community group) seeking an award

·         Previous relevant experience for the proposed activity

·         Track record in community based work/experience with participatory approaches.

·         Details of the organization: history, governance and funding of the lead organization, i.e. when established, how structured and organized, number of staff (Male /Female) and their expertise, membership, and total annual budget.

·         Capacity to carry out the proposed activity (other ongoing projects, staff capacity etc.).

 

2. Justification for Support – Linkages with (not more than 300 words)

·         What are the principal reasons why the project activity is needed?

·         Clearly identify the problem the project aims to solve

·         How is the proposed activity linked to the objectives of the donor’s areas of support?

·         What are the global and local significance of the proposed projects intervention

·         Explain how the donor’s resources would be used towards achieving the solution to the problem 

 

3. Context/Baseline (not more than 300 words) 

·         Context of the activity, location, background, duration. Please include photocopy of map of the project area.

·         Describe how the problem was identified (consultations/case study/survey?)

·         Assess and describe existing conditions of the project area.

·         Give reference to other studies if available. 

4.      Project Objective and Proposed Activity   (not more than 600 words)

·         Nature of the proposed activity

·         Immediate objectives

·         Expected project deliverables

·         Description of the proposed activities required in order to realize the projects objective, clearly indicating the sequence of activity  (with time frame, responsible party etc.)

·         Target beneficiaries in terms of socio-economics, geography and gender, should be elaborated

·         Strategy for development of indicators to assess project progress and achievements. The indicators should be specific, measurable, attainable, reliable ad time bound (SMART).

·         Project work-plan matrix with indicators and monitoring schedule

 

5. Project Strategy (not more than 600 words) 

The strategy of how the proposed activity will be carried out should include:

·         Institutional mapping/identification of stakeholders (such as government departments, academia, consultants, private sector, local communities)

·         Consultation with key stakeholders during project implementation

·         Role of recipient organization

·         Role of partner organization

·         Provision for dialogue and networking with NGOs and community groups

·         Relationship, if any, to other development projects.

·         Relationship to other NGO or private sector activities.

·         Gender perspective (how are women included)

·         How will the project be sustainable after grant funding is ended /post project strategy/exit strategy 

 

6. Technical Feasibility  (not more than 300 words) 

·         Description of technical details and requirements

·         Experience from similar projects

·         Technical expertise with the NGO

·         Technical assistance required from the donor’s programme

·         Identification of local expertise; NGO, Govt. departments and academia etc. and how it will be utilized by the project 

 

7. Anticipated Results (not more than 300 words) 

·         Indicate impacts on participants/beneficiaries:

–           Related to human such as health, social, economic and financial impacts

–           Related to environment such as land, water, air

·         Demonstration value, value as a learning experience, any other anticipated results

·         Potential risks/bottlenecks and how to address these 

                       

8. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation (not more than 300 words) 

·         The mechanisms that will be used to monitor and evaluate the project, the schedule for when these monitoring actions have to be carried out and who is responsible, the resources allocated for substantive review meetings among stakeholders, how the work plan and budget will be updated.

·         Reporting: assess capacity to prepare narrative and financial reports

·         Evaluation: plan for project evaluation, how are the stakeholders included in M&E? 

                       

9. Communication and Visibility Strategy (not more than 300 words) 

·         What type of communication material and reports will be prepared

·         What are the strategy for communication lessons learned

·         How will the project work with the media

 

10. Budget (narrative description not more than 600 words) 

·         Projected total project costs and proposed sources of funding

·         What the community and/or NGO will contribute to the project, in cash, in kind and/or in services.

·         Funds already obtained from or committed by other sources (if any) and the names of those sources.

·         Amount requested from the donor

·         Balance to be sought from other sources (if any) and the names of potential sources.

·         Baseline, national investment into local area; schools, health infrastructure, type of road, govt., budget for specific activity, allocations in annual development plan (P&D/PSDP)

·         Opening of separate bank account & maintaining financial record.
Project budget itemized in table form including budget line for audit costs

Courtesy : www.karmayog.org