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The success of a project is often determined by ASSUMPTIONS – an Anecdote

Anecdote

Before I like to start talking about PLANNING I like to share my own experience about the livestock project in Tanga I worked in from 2084 till 2088.

When I signed my contract with the Ministry of Development Cooperation in the Netherlands to work in a dairy training institute, I had no previous experience with dairy husbandry in Tanzania. But of course, no worries, I had a Master in Tropical Livestock Production …. What a mistake that was!

On my arrival at the Institute, I found a very large shed equipped to hold 500 dairy cattle with holding pens and a machine milking parlour. I was told that the shed was intended to train workers from the large sisal estates that had been transformed to dairy farms. Sisal had become uneconomical. Spare parts were ordered in the Netherlands and that process was not without serious problems. The rubbers for the milking machines for example got cracked by the long and hot transport in the containers making the milk sour once fitted at the milking machines caused by bacteria nesting in the cracks.

We decided, despite some resistance from Headquarters, to bend our policy towards smallholder dairy farms. We built 3 example smallholder Units at the institute where each farmer (yes, we allocated a farmer as manager of each Unit) took care for 3 dairy cows. We experimented with Napiergras (Elephant Gras) for zero grazing and even made silage. An ox-trainer was recruited and we ‘introduced’ ox-ploughing. Of course, the curriculum was adjusted, and we started recruiting interested farmers from the villages. They left very satisfied, and the training became very popular. Even the Dutch Embassy heard about the success and came with visitors to show them around.

Not long after the initial successes of the revolutionary shift in approach some ex-participants came to visit us at the institute. They asked us whether they could buy some calves. Of course, that was impossible as we were a Government Institute. But something was triggered inside us and the thinking had started. We took off and visited quite some farmers who had received their training at our institute, and we found that only very few had dairy cattle. We got shocked, but also realized that that was not our responsibility … We were in charge of training, actually. However, the pressure became larger and larger and finally a couple of years later, a new project was initiated elsewhere in the region with the help of the Dutch Government to breed dairy cattle and provide young stock to farmers. Problem solved.

But the complaints kept on reaching us. The market for dairy milk was bad, transport a problem, milk containers and other equipment not available, water in short supply, veterinary services absent, expensive medicines, no grass or concentrates, etc., etc., etc. It appeared endless and a bottomless pit … and none of those requirements were our responsibility ….

Finally we learnt that 87% of the African population seems to be lactose intolerant ….

Why the project?

A training experience with PMI (Project Management Institute) certified Project Managers who coach teachers in introducing ‘project thinking’ in primary and secondary schools in Portugal.

Facebook PMI Portugal nas escolas https://www.facebook.com/pmiescolas/?…

And of course the LFA methodology is applicable to any type and any scope of project and programme.

 

The videographer was Simon Mora, a very pleasant professional Venezuelan from Rome!

 

LFA (Logical Framework Analysis) or (Logical Framework Approach)

p1060326
It appears that still quite some confusion exists about the LFA. Therefore I post this clarification here.

The LFA method (Logical Framework Analysis) is the fundamental tool of Project Cycle Management (PCM) and Results-Based Management (RBM).

LFA is step-by-step procedure applying specific techniques in a participatory workshop setting for gathering a thorough picture of a problematic situation as perceived from different perspectives (stakeholders). We call that picture the ‘ANCHOR’ of the project, which will reflect the RELEVANCE of a possible intervention addressing those problems.

[Read more…]

Logical Framework Analysis: Challenging the PAIN: Using negative energy to generate positive energy!

2014-06-04 - CEB-problemsWhen being questioned “Why this project”? most people answer, for example: ‘production will raise’ …, or ‘improving the efficiency’…., or ‘raised professionalism’ …., etc., etc..
And if you are creative you may come up with endless of such arguments in a brainstorming session.

All these answers are expectations or opportunities and might indeed materialize in future. Although that ‘day-dreaming’ is considered interesting and energizing by the participants, it does not actually require knowledge on the actual current situation. And you can question whether those ‘arguments’ form a sufficient justification to support the project. On the contrary!

[Read more…]

The “Forking” © concept for analysis, planning and monitoring! (1)

I had no clue what I would run into when I signed my contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join a dairy training project in Tanzania that was about the establishment of a Dairy Training Centre, called LITI Buhuri. Of course I could do the project as I graduated as a Tropical Animal Production Expert! Haha, what a mistake!

[Read more…]

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