Resources: Training Manuals
Based on our popular training programs provided to groups around the globe, SI offers several training manuals designed to boost the performance of development organizations and programs. These manuals are used by international bilateral and multilateral development agencies, governments, northern and southern NGOs, universities and consulting firms.
- Manuals
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Managing the Project Cycle
by Rolf SartoriusContents
- Introduction
- Overview of the Project Cycle
- Stakeholder Analysis
- Problem and Needs Analysis
- Project Design
- Project Implementation
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Projects and Programs
- Sustainability
- Teams
- Resources
Approximately 150 pages.
Cost
$25 each, plus shipping & handling
Summary
This set of workshop participants' notes is based on Social Impact's high impact training course on Project Cycle Management (PCM) conducted for thousands of development managers around the globe. The notes synthesize world wide "best practices" in program management offering practical guidance on how to improve performance at each stage of the project cycle. The initial sections provide an overview of the project cycle, practical tips on stakeholder analysis and an overview of several approaches for problem and needs assessment. The section on project design presents basic concepts for developing project objectives, practical indicators of project performance, including indicators of participation, and analysis of risk. The section on project implementation includes steps for developing realistic operational plans, including how to avoid common problems in estimating project schedules and budgets. Additional sections provide practical tips on monitoring and evaluation; differences in planning projects vs. programs; managing for sustainability; and team building. The guide includes a bibliography of practical resources.
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Participatory Project Start-Up
by Dian Svendsen and Pam FosterContents
- Part I: Background and Use of Guide
- Background and Introduction
- Use of the Guide
- Part II: Facilitator Notes for Group Activities
- Training Activities for Creating a Good Learning Atmosphere
- Group Activities for Exchanging Information and Creating Linkages
- Group Activities for Consensus Building and Creating a Common Vision of Success
- Group Activities for Action and Implementation
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Warm-ups and Energizers
Approximately 77 pages.
Cost
$25 each, plus shipping & handling
Summary
This guide was designed for groups seeking to strengthen the implementation of HIV/AIDS activities, but it can be used for all sectors. Based on a effective model used in Zambia and other countries, this guide provides step-by-step guidance and sixteen workshop sessions to conduct the successful launch of an HIV/AIDS program by bringing together diverse groups—including NGOs, community based organizations, people living with and affected by AIDS, government agencies and donors—who have a stake in the issues. The guide begins from the assumption that a project design has already been developed and that there is the need to develop or reestablish a common vision of project success, build partnerships amongst diverse implementing groups, develop collaborative work plans and establish practical mechanisms for monitoring and review of progress. The guide uses a capacity building approach enabling groups to capture the synergies of diverse organizations working in partnership to strengthen project implementation.
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Facilitation Skills for Development Managers
by Dian Svendsen, Pam Foster and Rolf SartoriusContents
- Part I: Background and Use of Guide
- Background and Introduction
- Use of Guide
- Part II: Facilitation for Effective Workgroups, Meetings and Workshops
- What is Facilitation?
- When and Why Is It Needed?
- Differences Between Training and Facilitation
- Part III: Designing Your Workshop
- Participatory Process
- Steps in the Process
- Improved Visual Aids
- Beginnings, Endings and In-Between: Parts of Each Day
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Creating a Good Learning Environment
- Two Sample Workshop Designs
- Part IV: Facilitator Notes for Activities
- Group Activities for Creating a Good Learning Atmosphere
- Facilitator Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills (18 sessions
- Workshop Closing
- Group Activities for Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
- Warm-ups
- Energizers
- Practical Resources for Training and Facilitation
Approximately 155 pages.
Cost
$25 each, plus shipping & handling
Summary
Based on highly effective training programs in Zambia and around the world, this guide provides a training approach to build the knowledge, attitudes and skills of development managers to actively involve diverse interest groups in development processes and program management. The guide provides a basic narrative framework for understanding the role of the facilitator, guidance on how to plan and organize workshop and planning events, and over eighteen step-by-step training sessions to build the facilitation skills of workshop participants. The guide is based on principles of adult learning and is designed to maximize participants' commitment to the learning process and their own personal development. When used at the organizational level, the guide builds the capacities of organizations to become more effective catalysts of change through greater stakeholder involvement. At the project level, the guide provides a foundation of skills for managers who are seeking to improve their use of participatory approaches to project design, implementation and evaluation.
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Participatory Learning and Action
By Patricia Delaney and Barbara BurtonContents
- Part I: Origins and Basic Principles
- What is Participation?
- What is PLA and Why Use It?
- Antecedents
- Typology of Participation
- Core Principles
- Part II: Tools and Techniques
- Existing data
- Observation
- Transects and Walks
- Maps
- Listing and Sorting
- Calendars and Timelines
- Venn Diagrams
- Problem and Solution Trees
- Interviewing
- Part III: Using PLA in Context
- Putting Together a PLA Activity
- Critiques
- Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Ethics
- Part IV: Resources for Further Consultation
- Selected Bibliography
- Articles on Participatory Methods
Approximately 90 pages.
Cost
$25 each, plus shipping & handling
Summary
This set of workshop participants' notes is based on SI's popular training on participatory learning and action (PLA) methods for development. The guide grows out of the participatory rural appraisal (PRA/PLA) experience and SI's training programs and participatory planning events for development from around the globe. The participatory methods for visualization, consensus building, interviewing, sampling and group dynamics are proven effective across sectors. The underlying facilitation skills needed to use these techniques most effectively are presented in SI's companion guide on "Facilitation Skills for Development Managers." Part I of the PLA guide outlines the rationale, origins and basic principles of PLA. Part II covers roughly 25 PLA tools and techniques from participatory mapping to wealth ranking, food security timelines, Venn diagrams and problem tree analysis. Part III covers using PLA in context and proper sequencing of PLA activities. Part IV provides a compendium of resources and excerpts from selected articles on participatory methods for development.