The presentation will take you through different stages of project planning, volunteer recruitment, and program implementation. Concepts such as baseline research, orientation & training, communication tools with children, preparing a Plan of Action using Gantt charts are included.

1. HOW TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS
AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE
THEM
DR. RICHA SINGH BDS; PGDM
DEVELOPMENT SECTOR CONSULTANT

2. RECAP: PROJECT DESIGN STEPS 1 TO 10
Orde
r
Step Activity
1 NEED ASSESSMENT Baseline Tools used: Survey or Formative Research
2 PROBLEM ANALYSIS Causes; Contributing factors; Consequences; scope
3 STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS Who all are affected/ can contribute?
4 POTENTIAL PARTNERS Self Vs Partnership Vs Outsource
5 SELECT INTERVENTION Type of program: Skill building; Behaviour change;
Capacity building; Mentorship; Orientation
6 PLAN OF ACTION How do plan to implement the intervention?
Steps; Timeline; Activities; Milestones
7 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT Key Performance Indicators; M & E processes
8 BUDGET ALLOCATION The money requited to implement the program
9 PROPOSAL DESIGN CSR Vs RFP Vs Foundations Vs Incubators/ Impact Investors
10 SCALING UP Pilot  Single Location  Multi-City/State
© RICHA SINGH

3. RECAP: KEY DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS IN PROGRAM
DESIGN FOR CHILDREN
FACTORS DIFFERENCES PRACTICAL EXAMPLES
Location Urban Vs Rural Infra WASH Rural Vs Urban
Scope Standardised Vs Customised Projects in Schools Vs Centres
Age-Group Pre-school Vs Primary Vs Middle Vs
High School and above
Reading Vs CLP Vs MHM Vs
Anti-tobacco/Addiction
Nature of intervention
programme
Skill Building Vs Capacity Building
Sensitization Vs BCD;
Physical Vs Psychological/
Emotional
Spoken English
Mobile App Dev
Handwashing with soap
Self Defence; Yoga
Different Children Special Ed; JD; Child Rescue Centre Advanced Care; Professional
help; Psychotherapy
Length of the intervention Days Vs Weeks Vs Years 1-day events Vs Few weeks
Vs Years (WASH projects)
© RICHA SINGH

4. RECAP: COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN
K.I.S.S. Principle – Keep it short and simple while writing your module
Consistent Effort: Repeat until Learned
Catch Them Young
Engaging Activities –Stories, Songs, Role-Play, Quizzes
Simple Vocab; Effective words- Games Not Lessons ; Quiz Not Test ; Opportunity
Not Problem
Promote Peer learning
Talk to them NOT at them
Each Child is different
Give responsibility and reinforce Positive behaviour
© RICHA SINGH

5. RECAP: STEPS OF VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Assessing need
for volunteers
Sharing your
volunteering
opportunity
Screening &
Recruiting
volunteers
Orientation and
Training
volunteers
Skill
assessment and
feedback
Volunteer starts
implementing
© RICHA SINGH

6. RECAP: VOLUNTEERING BEST PRACTICES THAT
WORKED
Uniform module: A step-by-step implementation guide given to each one
Communication: clear Monitoring and Evaluation parameters for each volunteer
Calendar: Session reminders sent to each one and on community groups
Inclusive : Make them part of events- GHD, MHDay, Etc
Carrot and Stick : Motivational prizes & promotions
2 way communication: Listen to problems and resolve them
Uniformity : Set compliance parameters and follow them in an unbiased and stringent
manner
Room for innovation & improvement : Allow for creative freedom and incorporate
suggestions
© RICHA SINGH

7. POLL QUESTION #1
• Does your organization make a project implementation plan with clear
steps and timelines?
1. - Yes, for each project from the very beginning
2. -Yes, we initiated the process in the last 1 year
3. -Sometimes, for complex projects we do make the process plan; not
for the easy ones
4. No, we don’t document the implementation plan yet
© RICHA SINGH

8. FROM PROJECT DESIGN TO DELIVERY
Get the blue print ready
When? Timelines start to end (Ideally 6 months to 1 year in
advance for NEW unfunded projects)
How ? Broad Steps, activities under each step, sub activities
What ? Resources (3P)-people, products, pounds/money
Who? Assign responsibility & expected outcomes
PLAN OF ACTION: How do plan to implement
the intervention?
a) Steps; Timeline; Activities; Milestones
b) Global Goals; Government guidelines;
Novel Project
c) Resources; Personnel; Outcomes; Impact
© RICHA SINGH

9. SAMPLE GANTT CHARTS
Permission from authorities
Prepare letter of
intent
How long will you
implement –
hrs/week
Which
locations/Schools
will you cover
Need for
intervention &
expected outcomes
Charges if any
Intervention type
Prepare the module/
operation manual
MODULE SAMPLE
MHM
LIST all the required
materials and
vendors
Procure materials at
low cost
List number and
quality of HR
Volunteers/Trainers
Coordinator
Program Managers
Recruit Train Evaluate
As mentioned
in the design
module (Slide
5)
Training –in-
person, video,
via
coordinators
Evaluate-
induct or
transfer
Consider
multiple
stakeholders
Implement Reassess and
Improve
© RICHA SINGH

10. Activity Timeline Resources
Or
Input
Output Outcome Impact Incharge
Of this
Activity
Parts of a
Computer
lesson part
of the
Computer
Literacy skill
development
program by
CACR
2 weeks in
Month 1
• Create a
Diagram,
• Video
lesson
• Written
content
for
teaching
• Volunteer
s
• Project
Head
2 sessions
over 2
weeks of
content
delivery by
the
volunteer
with a
assessment
quiz at the
end by
project
monitor/coo
rdinator
Children are
well versed
with each
computer
part and its
function
Initial fear to
use the
computer has
disappeared
among first-
time computer
users. Children
are looking
forward to
learning more
Person
who will
teach –
Kajal
Person
who tests
and
monitors
-Richa
PLAN OF ACTION EXAMPLE (ATROOII)
© RICHA SINGH

11. CONTINGENCY PLANNING- PLANNED VS SYSTEMIC
RISKS
• Permission delays
• Resources Out of Budget
• Lack of quality Human resources
• Unplanned changes- New authority, change in laws, Cost goes up
GST,
• Delay in CSR funds
• Someone Quits/ Asked to go
• Government scraps the plan or closes the initiative
© RICHA SINGH

12. SOLVE ROAD BLOCKS AND BOTTLE NECKS
• Listen to the volunteers for feedback and bottlenecks
• Have Monthly/Quarterly group meetings Face-to-face
• Be Firm but Motivating
• External factors – Convincing and Tactful
• Internal- Improved Communication & Fit
Volunteers
Indifferent
Authority
Buy-in
MotivationPartners
Delay
Differen
t
approac
h
Team
dynamics
© RICHA SINGH

13. PILOT IMPLEMENTATION – ONE LOCATION/
SMALLER SAMPLE
• Carry out a pilot of the programme with a sample of the target
group.
•Identify key parameters that will be monitored during the pilot
phase.
•These parameters will be used to assess the programme design
and to identify areas that need to be modified.
© RICHA SINGH

14. HANDWASHING WITH SOAP – BY CACR WITH TECHNICAL
SUPPORT FROM UNICEF)
• 3234 students in
38 Schools (2016-
17)
• 1672 Students in
17 Schools (2017-
18)
• 636 students
continue training
In June 2018 © RICHA SINGH

15. SCALING UP- DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES
• DON’T FAIL BY SUCEEDING
• VERIFY RESOURCES BEFORE SCALING
• ARE YOU ADDING STAKEHOLDERS? PROCESSES?
• STOCK UP- 3Ps
• UNIFORM MODULE/ PROCESS
• LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY
• ITIRATE SO YOU GO – 10 locations planned ---7 implemented
© RICHA SINGH

16. EXAMPLE: MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT- WASH IN
SCHOOLS (BY CACR WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM
UNICEF)
 In 2016-2017: We conducted a
pilot session on MHM in 3
schools and interacting with 200
girl students and their mothers.
 In 2017-2018 (April ): We scaled
up this project for girls, mothers,
teachers studying in Class 6 to
Class 10 in 17 more municipal
schools thanks to technical
support from UNICEF and
Sponsorship by ICCL (BSE).
 2018-19: 86 girls continued to be
trained by 4 volunteers in June
* average attendance NOT Highest.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
MANAGEMENT NATIONAL
GUIDELINES
http://www.ccras.nic.in/sites/d
efault/files/Notices/16042018
_Menstrual_Hygiene_Manageme
nt.pdf
SDG 3- good health and well
being
SDG 4- gender equality
SDG 6- Clean water and
Sanitation
© RICHA SINGH

17. THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE RECRUITING PROJECT
HEAD/PROGRAM MANAGER
Clear and Concise communication about the Aim, Obj and Process
Leverage community groups on Whtsapp, team management software- Asana,
Kanban
He/she should listen to the volunteers for feedback and bottlenecks
He/she must have Monthly/Quarterly group meetings Face-to-face with
subordinates
Leadership should Be Firm but Motivating
Plan ahead: Make the necessary resources available to him/her
Let him/her know what is expected at the end of the intervention
Should be resourceful
Can think on his/her feet
Forthright in communication
© RICHA SINGH

18. POOL QUESTION #3
Do you document the process of implementation of your
project?
1. Yes, Every time for each project
2. No, we are a new organization (less than 3 yrs) so still
learning
3. Sometimes, if documentation resources are available
© RICHA SINGH

19. THINGS MUST ‘FOLLOW’ BESIDES DOING
Collect feedback from stakeholders- what is working/ needs to be fixed
Record the feedback-emails, documents, ppts, letters
Brainstorm on how to fix quickly
Don’t withhold information- Bad or Good
Process documentation (next webinar)
Case studies (next webinar)
Donor reports/ Partner reports
Use International platforms –SDGs, state guidelines
© RICHA SINGH

20. POLL QUESTION #4
• Do you have a Monitoring & Evaluation process for each project
?
1. Why do I need one? We have excellent volunteers who
implement very well
2. No, but we would like to have a systematic process
3. Yes ,we have a M & E system for each type of project
© RICHA SINGH

21. LAST POOL QUESTION #5
• I found the session today
1. Very Useful, learned something new
2. Useful but boring
3. Somewhat useful as most of the things were already known to
me
4. Not useful at all
© RICHA SINGH

22. VOTE OF THANKS & CONTACT INFO
• A BIG ‘Thank you’ to friends at CACR, for sharing project data and case
studies
• Please do share your feedback about the webinar via the feedback form and
register on ivolunteer website for part 3 (Monitoring, Evaluation &
Documentation (including proposal planning)
• Contact Information: You can write to me at drrichasingh123@gmail.com or
connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/drricha/
© RICHA SINGH