Conceptual Design Assessments and Analysis

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Project Management Institute and the International Institute for Learning, Inc. for permitting the

use of their intellectual property in this curriculum.

Red Cross Project Cycle

Case Study – Delta River MunicipalityA recent assessment found that deterioration of water quality in the Delta River Municipality has resulted in depleted fish stocks; reduced catch and falling income among fishing families, and there is an increasingly high incidence of water borne diseases and illnesses, particularly among poor families and children under five.

The current situation is the result of the discharge of fecal waste, household and business refuse, and inadequately treated wastewater in the river.

Some of the numerous factors that contribute to the problem include: Low public awareness of the dangers of dumping household waste. Low access and use of sanitation facilities for the disposal of fecal waste. Furthermore, the Environment Protection Agency’s oversight over the local textile industry has been ineffective and sometimes corrupted. All these factors have led to high levels of fecal waste and household/business refuse in the river.

As a result of low budgets and poor planning by local government even among businesses that treat their waste, treated wastewater does not meet environmental standards.

Collecting Assessment Data

Where do project ideas come from?

Donors express their priority of

addressing maternal child health in the Delta Region

A local doctor suggests

advocating for sewage

connections to improve hygiene

Mothers express displeasure with

the mess and sickly conditions that result from lack of hygienic

sanitation

A fishing cooperative

observed that fish stocks were high in

a .nearby town with sanitation

facilities

Comparative Observations

Donor InterestExperts and Consultants

Stakeholder Need

Assessments vs. Analysis

Idea for a Project

Activity: Analysis ToolsType of Analysis Illustrative Tools

Stakeholder Analysis

Problem Analysis

Objectives Analysis

Alternatives Analysis

Activity: Analysis ToolsType of Analysis Illustrative Tool

Stakeholder AnalysisVenn Diagrams, RASIC Charts

Stakeholder Analysis Matrix

SWOT Analysis, Spider Diagrams

Problem AnalysisProblem Trees

Force Field Analysis

Mapping

Objectives Analysis Objective Trees

Alternatives Analysis Organize and Analyze information

Identifying StakeholdersSTAKEHOLDERS - Individuals or institutions that may – directly or indirectly, positively or negatively – affect or be affected by the project or program.

Mapping Stakeholder Relationships

Project Partners

Beneficiaries

Stakeholders

Individuals or institutions that may – directly or indirectly, positively or negatively – affect or be affected by the project or program.

Those who implement the projects (who are also stakeholders, and may be a target group.)

Those who benefit in whatever way from the implementation of the project. Distinction may be made between target groups; final beneficiaries and indirect beneficiaries.

Building a Stakeholder Venn Diagram

Venn Diagram - Stakeholders(From the perspective of fishing families)

Stakeholder Analysis MatrixStakeholder and basic characteristics

Interests and how affected by the problem

Capacity and motivation to bring about change

Possible actions to address stakeholder interests

Stakeholder Analysis Alternative

Stakeholder Analysis MatrixStakeholder and basic characteristics

Interests and how affected by the problem

Capacity and motivation to bring about change

Possible actions to address stakeholder interests

Fishing families20,000 families, low income earners, small scale family businesses, organized into informal cooperatives, women actively involved in fish processing and marketing

• Maintain and improve the means of livelihood

• Pollution is affecting volume and quality of catch

• Family health is suffering, particularly children and mothers

• Keen interest in pollution control measures

• Limited political influence given weak organizational structure

• Support capacity to organize and lobby

• Implement pollution • Identify develop alternative

income sources

Textile IndustryMedium scale industrial operation, poorly regulated and no unions. Well connected with ruling party, poor environmental record

• Maintain/increase profits• Some concern about public

image• Concern about costs of

environmental regulations enforced

• Have financial and technical resources to employ new cleaner technologies

• Limited current motivation to change

• Raise their awareness of social and environmental impact

• Mobilize political pressure to influence industry behavior

• Strengthen and enforce environmental laws

Households45,000 households discharge waste and waste water into river also source drinking water and eat fish from river

• Aware of textile industry’s pollution and impact on water quality

• Want to dispose of own waste away from household

• Want access to clean water

• Limited understanding of the health impact of their own was/waste water disposal

• Appear willing to pay for improved waste management services

• Raise awareness of households of the implications of their own waste disposal practices

• Work with communities and government to address water and sanitation issues.

Environmental Protection Agency:Etc.

etc etc Etc

Level 2 - Problem Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

ProblemAnalysis

• Identifying key problems, constraints & opportunities;

• Determining cause & effect relationships

• Identifying & characterizing potential major stakeholders;

• assessing their capacity

Developing a Problem TreeStep One: Brainstorm Problems• either completely open (no preconceptions)• or, more directed, by specifying a “known” high-level

problem based on preliminary analysisStep Two: Select an Individual Starter ProblemStep Three: Look for problems related to the starter

problemStep 4: Establish a hierarchy of causes and effects• Problems which are directly causing the starter problem

– BELOW• Problems which are direct effects of the starter problem

– ABOVEStep 5: Connect the Problems with Cause-Effect Arrows

Problem, Causes and Effects

Problem Tree - Example

Level 3: Objectives Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

• Identifying & characterizing potential major stakeholders;

• assessing their capacity

Problem Analysis

• Identifying key problems, constraints & opportunities;

• determining cause & effect relationships

Objectives Analysis

• Developing solutions from the identified problems;

• identifying means to end relationships

Developing an Objectives TreeStep One: Reformulate all negative situations of theproblems analysis into positive situations that are:• desirable• realistically achievable

Step Two: Check the means-ends relationships to ensure validity and completeness of the hierarchy

Step Three: If necessary:• revise statements• add new objectives if relevant and necessary• delete objectives which do not seem suitable or

necessary

Objectives Tree

Objectives Tree

Level 4: Alternatives Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

• Identifying & characterizing potential major stakeholders;

• assessing their capacity

Problem Analysis

• Identifying key problems, constraints & opportunities;

• determining cause & effect relationships

AlternativesAnalysis

• Identifying different strategies to achieve solutions;

• selecting most appropriate strategy.

Objectives Analysis

• Developing solutions from the identified problems;

• identifying means to end relationships

Selecting a Strategy

Mercy Corps Strategy Graphic

Alternatives Analysis