Project Proposal

ANNEX A Project Proposal Template and Project Budget Template

This Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) Programme Document, which includes the Joint Work Plan and Budget, enables UNICEF and its CSO partner to jointly draft a harmonized, results focused plan with a minimum of documentation.  The document should include the following sections:

1. Cover Page - one page
2. Executive summary – one page (optional)
3. Situation analysis – one to two pages
4. Strategies including lessons learned and the proposed project– one page
5. Results framework – one page
6. Management and coordination arrangements –one page
7. Fund management arrangements – one page
8. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting –one page
9. Work plans and budgets (as annexes) - two to three pages

A brief description of the expected content for each of these sections is provided below.

Cover Page (One page)

The cover page contains the expected result(s) of the cooperation, total estimated budget, funded and unfunded components, expected sources of funding, duration of the agreement and signatures of the NGO/CBO authorities(s).

Executive Summary (One page – optional)

The executive summary contains a comprehensive summary of all sections focusing on the significance and relevance of the cooperation, its contribution to UNICEF’s priorities and national plans, the results expected to be achieved, intended beneficiaries, and information about relevant donors and other partners.

Situation Analysis (One to two pages)

This section provides a brief evidence-based causal analysis which may be obtained from the Situation Analysis of Children and Women, the national development framework or the relevant humanitarian action plan. It outlines the economic, social, political, environmental and institutional context of the collaboration.  It identifies the development or human rights challenges to be addressed; provides specific, current and disaggregated data on these challenges, key causal factors, and the interventions that are necessary and sufficient for the achievement of the planned results. This is to be supplemented with references to identified baselines (to be noted in the Project Monitoring Framework in Section 8), relevant recent research reports and/or reports and recommendations of field missions, assessments, evaluations, etc.

Strategies, including lessons learned and the proposed project (One page)

The subsections to be covered include:

Background/context: The intention of this sub-section is to describe how the cooperation will contribute through the Rolling Work Plans (RWP) to the achievement of the national development plans or priorities, Country Office priorities and international humanitarian obligations, among others. It should also identify other outputs and stakeholders contributing to the achievement of the results of the collaboration.  It identifies other relevant stakeholders who may be directly involved in this project: UN organizations, government, other non-government institutions, and donor organizations active in the area.

Lessons Learned: This sub-section provides a summary of relevant lessons learned from experiences, opportunities and challenges which may support or constrain achievement of results.  Statements of agreed lessons are particularly important where there is a significant departure from previous programmes or strategies.  If relevant, this sub-section may also indicate how recommendations and observations of Human Rights treaty bodies to the respective State Party have been considered and used in the design of the CA.

Proposed Collaboration: This sub-section outlines the specific strategies adopted to achieve the expected results, taking into consideration the lessons learned. It focuses on how the strategies address the key causes of the problems which have been identified, and the role of the partner(s) involved in each phase.  It includes details on the intended manner in which the cooperation should unfold in its various phases. It provides a brief description of the division of labor between the NGO/CBO and UNICEF, the added value of each to the expected results, and the NGO’s/CBO’s capacity to deliver agreed outputs. The proposed project strategy should confirm that the capacities necessary for the implementation were carefully considered and that the selected partner has the capacity to achieve the intended results (refer to the various assessments).

This section should also refer to prior assessments of key cross-cutting concerns such as: human rights; gender equality; the environmental issues that are relevant in this case and how the cooperation will address them; assessment of capacity gaps of key institutions and collaborating partners and the capacity development strategies that will be adopted.  Depending on the subject covered, this section may also include other types of ex-ante analyses, for example themes such as education, health, water and sanitation.

Sustainability of results: State how the results will be sustained including relevant capacities being developed among duty bearers and rights holders and government institutions and communities.

Results Framework (One page)

This section will contain a brief narrative and the results framework.  The narrative should briefly outline the logic of the results chain. The outputs of the cooperation should directly contribute to the relevant programme results (i.e. outcomes, outputs, programme component results (PCR) or intermediate result(s) as appropriate).  Proper justification should be provided, when any element of the cooperation falls outside the Country Programme’s results framework.

Management and Coordination Arrangements (One page)

This section elaborates the project planning and management responsibilities and commitments of NGO / CBO.  Arrangements for monitoring, review, and coordination should be documented.  Linkages to existing coordination mechanisms should also be specified.

Fund Management Arrangements (One page)

This section should specify the details of the agreed arrangement for transfer of cash to the NGO / CBO.  Cash transfer modalities (e.g. direct cash transfers, reimbursement or direct payment) , the size and frequency of disbursements (generally on a quarterly basis).  The scope and frequency of monitoring, reporting, assurance and audit activities will be agreed prior to programme implementation, taking into consideration the capacity of the NGO / CBO, which should be adjusted as a function of the results of the assessments, the related degrees of risk and corresponding mitigation measures including support for capacity development.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (One page)

Monitoring: Describe the monitoring activities that the NGO / CBO will undertake (such as baseline collection, reviews or studies if necessary to measure effect/impact, field visits, evaluation etc.), the timing of such activities and their respective responsibilities.

Annual/regular reviews: State the arrangements and clear responsibilities for conducting regular reviews, including annual reviews where applicable. NB: Review of the collaboration may also form part of Annual Review process.

Evaluation: State the arrangements for, responsibility and timing of evaluation(s) of the collaboration. It should also state how the results of the evaluation(s) will be used by relevant stakeholders.

It should further state how the risks and assumptions will be managed to achieve the agreed results. These should at a minimum be reviewed at the annual/regular reviews and revised as appropriate.

Reporting: A reporting format should be agreed upon by both parties.

9. Work plans and budgets (Two or more pages)

Joint Work Plans (JWP) will detail the activities to be carried out within the PCA by each partner and include the inputs, timeframes and budget.  The basis for all resource transfers to an NGO / CBO should be detailed in the work plans, and agreed upon between UNICEF and the NGO / CBO.  The first JWP should be attached to the programme document.

In this Section, please also note non-financial, in-kind contributions, including supplies and technical assistance that UNICEF will provide.