M1-Génie Rural-2019_2020

Syllabus: Project Writing

Overview
The course is designed to introduce level 4 students in Agricultural Engineering to development and/or entrepreneurial project with the use of results-based approach to programme management that has gained currency over recent years. In this course, you will learn different techniques to get engaged in the write-up and development of a project document. By getting engaged with a structured series of slide presentations and practical exercises in the realm of rural engineering and agricultural development, students equally learn about the basic concepts of Results Based Management (RBM). Concomitantly, they have an opportunity to practice with tools such as Logical Framework Matrix or Results Framework - used to design, manage, monitor and evaluate results based projects or programmes.
Getting the Most Out of the Course
Participants in this course will each have their own unique goals and objectives. Thus, participants are urged to spend their time accordingly. Basically, you get out what you put in! Here are some tips for the most effective ways to engage with this course.
o Collaboration
 Getting to know your peers. Read their biographical data and career goal
 Take an active part during interactive discussions.
o Readings and Assignments
 Participants are encouraged to take the opportunity to review the readings associated to each lecture and perform assignments. This way, they will have a better understanding of the lecture materials when it is presented. I want this course to be valuable for all attendees, so don't do things just because I ask you. Do them because you think it is worth for your professional development and career goal.
Weekly activities:
o Welcome to course (tell us about yourself);
o What is a (development) project?
o What are results and why are they important?
o Introduction to the results chain
o Results Statements
o Performance Indicators, baselines and targets
o The importance of identifying assumptions and associated risks
o Build a project narrative and structure during write shop sessions
o Budgeting

What you'll learn
o The rationale for using results to define achievement
o The "results chain" - and the theory of change (ToC) -
o Using performance indicators to measure progress
o Using assumptions and related risks to build a coherent narrative around risk assessment
o Contextualize a development issue and build a narrative following the format of a problem-oriented project work
o Drafting a budget

Course assessment
Throughout the course, participants are asked to submit a number of assignments, which will form a portfolio. Portfolio items will also include a clear description of participant’s learning outcomes and how the latter can effectively communicate what they have learnt. Overall, course participants will be evaluated on the basis of the results of the different assignments and the portfolio will constitute the final assessment