Project cycle management workshops

Past experience on Gijima KZN-funded projects has shown that grant beneficiaries often have trouble understanding the organisation’s project management system. This impacts on their ability to manage their projects in accordance with Gijima KZN’s requirements. In response, Gijima KZN hosted two Project Cycle Management workshops to help grant beneficiaries to establish internal project and financial management systems.

The first workshop was held for BEF and LCF CAP Phase 5 grant beneficiaries at the Khayalembali Lodge in Durban on 26 and 27 November 2007. A second workshop was hosted for LCF IMP 4 (ii) grant beneficiaries at the Redlands Hotel and Lodge in Pietermaritzburg on 21-22 January 2008.

Each two-day workshop focused on the various procurement modalities and reporting requirements specific to these project types.

The workshops included:

• Project Generation, Contracting and Procurement
• Project Activity Schedules
• Management of a Gijima-funded Project
• Preparation of an Interim Monitoring Report
• Monitoring Visits
• Closure of Gijima-funded Projects

Jay Aniruth, Gijima KZN Fund Advisor reports: 'Feedback from the participants was very positive. Most attendees felt that the sessions did an excellent job of improving their understanding of Gijima’s PCM processes, required documentation and project management systems, although a common recommendation was that time management be improved for future workshops.'

Grant beneficiaries of the most recent call for proposals have proven to be more aware of Gijima KZN requirements and are managing their projects and budgets more successfully. This highlights the need for further workshops to provide grant beneficiaries with sound advice regarding internal project management and financial management systems. Gijima KZN has also noted suggestions from participants, which included calls for more frequent communication from area managers, closer supervision on projects and more regular communication through newsletters and the Internet.

Assessing business plans workshop

A two-day workshop, held on 14-15 November 2007 and conducted by Manoj Seonath of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), assisted Gijima KZN and the KZN DED to gain insight into the manner in which business plans are assessed by funding partners. A standardised assessment procedure is necessary, particularly as grant beneficiaries progress from Gijima KZN’s initial review for 70% funding.

The workshop was very positively received by the team and gave insight into how Gijima KZN CAP’s were viewed through the eyes of some of the IDC and commercial and development financial institutions more generally. The workshop included various presentations, followed by an examination of financial records and case studies to help attendees come to grips with the rigours of business plan assessment. Further workshops, focusing on how to monitor the outputs of a project and how to assess the quality of technical reports from service providers, have been scheduled for the first quarter of 2008. These will incorporate experiences and lessons from the Project Cycle Management Workshops, the Service Providers’ Workshop and the Assessing Business Plans workshop.

To view the February 2008 Gijima KZN quarterly review, click here.

Contact the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development:
Boyce Mntambo, Manager for Information & Communication Technology

Postal address:
Private Bag X001
Bishopsgate
4008

Physical address:
270 Jabu Ndlovu Street
Pietermaritzburg
3201

Tel.: +27 33 264 2500
Fax: +27 86 679 6404
Email: mntambob@kznded.gov.za

Website: www.kznded.gov.za