Plan extensively for project start up:
When preparing your initial project work plan and budget, carefully consider how much time and effort it will take to organize and implement your start-up activities, including establishing sub agreements and communications protocols; selecting and training staff and volunteers; securing office space, equipment, and supplies; establishing key project systems for financial management, performance management, and service delivery; conducting baseline surveys; and preparing for the project’s public launch, etc. By thoroughly planning in these areas, your project will be less likely to experience delays from the beginning, which will enable you to avoid the lengthy, complicated process that your funder may require to modify your grant agreement post-award.
Plan for unexpected implementation events:
No matter how well planned your international development project is, you will likely encounter some implementation issues that you did not anticipate. One of these is staff turnover. Staffing changes can occur not only within your own project team, and on your partner’s team, but also in your implementing environment. Three ways that you can prepare for these changes are to: 1) ensure that information detailing the status of project activities and the roles/responsibilities of key stakeholders is documented in writing and kept current; 2) provide cross-training to your staff to enable them to assume multiple roles, which can improve job satisfaction and ensure greater continuity within the project; and 3) designate a lead and back-up person to provide better coverage of major project responsibilities.
In addition to staffing changes, your project may face delays due to other unexpected events such as natural disasters, and political, economic or health crises. In these instances, you should immediately notify your donor organization of the adverse situation, then take several steps to try to mitigate its negative effects, such as: 1) activating an emergency response team and process; 2) informing key internal and external stakeholders of the situation and seeking their support for addressing it; 3) creating a priority list of project tasks that require urgent attention; and 4) planning for how the most critical tasks can continue to be carried out in light of the challenging circumstances facing your project.
When preparing your initial project work plan and budget, carefully consider how much time and effort it will take to organize and implement your start-up activities, including establishing sub agreements and communications protocols; selecting and training staff and volunteers; securing office space, equipment, and supplies; establishing key project systems for financial management, performance management, and service delivery; conducting baseline surveys; and preparing for the project’s public launch, etc. By thoroughly planning in these areas, your project will be less likely to experience delays from the beginning, which will enable you to avoid the lengthy, complicated process that your funder may require to modify your grant agreement post-award.
Plan for unexpected implementation events:
No matter how well planned your international development project is, you will likely encounter some implementation issues that you did not anticipate. One of these is staff turnover. Staffing changes can occur not only within your own project team, and on your partner’s team, but also in your implementing environment. Three ways that you can prepare for these changes are to: 1) ensure that information detailing the status of project activities and the roles/responsibilities of key stakeholders is documented in writing and kept current; 2) provide cross-training to your staff to enable them to assume multiple roles, which can improve job satisfaction and ensure greater continuity within the project; and 3) designate a lead and back-up person to provide better coverage of major project responsibilities.
In addition to staffing changes, your project may face delays due to other unexpected events such as natural disasters, and political, economic or health crises. In these instances, you should immediately notify your donor organization of the adverse situation, then take several steps to try to mitigate its negative effects, such as: 1) activating an emergency response team and process; 2) informing key internal and external stakeholders of the situation and seeking their support for addressing it; 3) creating a priority list of project tasks that require urgent attention; and 4) planning for how the most critical tasks can continue to be carried out in light of the challenging circumstances facing your project.
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