PROJECT PROPOSAL PREPARATION

PICKING THE RIGHT TOPIC

Cesar G. Della, Ed.D. Director, Research & Devt.

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Session 01

Picking the Right Topic and General Writing Tips

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

In this session . . .

1. Selecting topics attractive to international donors 2. Making a project manageable 3. Establishing partnership 4. Balancing risk and return in a project 5. General writing tips

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

The first step . . .

Picking a good topic is the very first step in designing a project!

SELECTING TOPICS ATTRACTIVE TO INTERNATIONAL DONORS
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Topics that attract donors . . .

Important to be worth doing Internally approved by management Useful and seen as a priority by project beneficiaries Manageable - can yield results within a limited period with reasonable inputs Attractive to partners Balances risks and returns

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Important to be worth doing . . .

SO WHAT?
1. What is new? 2. How will it solve an urgent problem? 3. Who will benefit as a result of this project and in what way?
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Internally approved by management

RDE projects should Contribute significantly in knowledge and impact Be integrated with local programs Be linked with the regional and national agriculture development plan Be supported by management and peers
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Useful to beneficiaries
Convince donor that beneficiaries need outputs sought:
Talk to farmers and communities! Ask them what they want! Meet their needs Involve them in the design phase Document their reactions on the proposal
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Manageable topic
Discuss in your design group:
Project duration
How long? Can it show results in time? Can it be phased? Is it cheap/expensive? Big budget needed? Number of partners

Project size (scale):

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Manageable topic
Discuss in your design group:
Project sites:
Number? Pilot project? Accessibility? Peace and order?

Management issues:

Consultations? Involvement of LGUs/partners?

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Establishing partnership
Donors like partnership projects:
Assemble a competent design and implementation team Include partners from donors countries Treat partners with respect; involve them in every aspect of the project

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Establishing partnership
Donors like partnership projects:
Prove your/partners comparative advantage Prove competence of staff (experience and qualifications) and access to stakeholders

Be prepared for rejection.

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Balancing risk and returns

Donors support projects with low risks and high potential returns In considering a topic, Estimate the risk and potential returns How likely will project succeed?

What impact will be achieved?

Reject topics with high risk and low returns
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Convincing titles

A good title should be catchy, informative, and distinctive Two-part titles are popular: 1st part: short, snappy, easy to say 2nd part: serious and informative

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Convincing titles
Samples: Fishes for the Future: Identification and characterization of endangered aquatic species in selected tropical sites Why Do the Chickens Die? Developing low-cost and simple technologies for aflatoxin estimation in food and feeds Reaching the Unreached: A Virtual Academy for the Semi-Arid Tropics
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Convincing titles
Samples: Helping People Help Themselves: Initiating Community-Based Management Project in Legaspi City Better Food for Better Health: Showcasing Nature Farming Technology System Cacao-Coco Tandem: An Integrated Cropping Approach in the Province of Zamboanga Del Norte Training the Trainers: Re-energizing Human Resources for the Philippine Agricultural Extension System
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

General writing tips

Think about your donor before and while you are writing: Donors needs. Spoon-feed your reader. Make message easy to read

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

General writing tips

Appeal to the self-interest of your donors!

This means you need to know as much as you can about them

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Donors interest
Donors are the readers of your proposals.
Identify agencys priorities Find out donors likes and dislikes
Through your donor intelligence unit Surf donor sites Confer with donor staff
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Plan before you write

Prepare an outline What are you writing? Who will read it? What is its your purpose? What is the topic?

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Write in order to be easily read

Use simple, concrete, specific words
do Instead of accomplish part component help facilitate long lengthy so accordingly six several car vehicle Never use: aforementioned, hereinunder, at this point in time, it should be pointed out
Use
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Write in order . . .
Use simple, direct, short sentences
Use only as many words as needed

Use short paragraphs, plenty of white space and subheads

One idea per paragraph Pictures and headlines to break up text Large margins Bold text/italics to highlight Bullets, graphs, tables, if necessary

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Making writing readable

Use the active voice (subject takes direct action) Examples: The technician planted the experimental plots. The farmers rarely consult their technicians. Donors strictly screen project proposals.

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Making writing . . .
A passive sentence is one in which a subject is acted upon : Examples The experimental plots were planted by the technician. The technicians are rarely consulted by the farmers. Project proposals are strictly screened by donors.
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

To inform or to persuade?
Writing to inform
Write with your head Write to convey information Write clearly and logically Example: project report

Writing to persuade
Write with your heart Write to persuade your donor to do something Write with urgency and passion Example: project proposal

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Writing with passion

Use strong words like: urgent, vital, essential, new Avoid vague words like: possibly, perhaps, under certain circumstances Use short and sharp sentences to convey your message Put statements in a positive form

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Donors are the readers of your proposals

Write with passion! Let your love of your topic come out through your writing

Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation

Maraming Salamat!
Trainers Training Workshop on Project Proposal Development and Resource Generation