Project Management skills capacity building programme; Project Management Zimbabwe marks 10 years
REPORT
By Peter Banda
International Correspondent
Harare, Zimbabwe
UNDP Zimbabwe Rolls out massive Civil Society member Project Management skills capacity building programme
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Harare Zimbabwe has rolled out a massive training programme worth over USD$50 000 to empower Civil Society Organisations with project management skills. The Programme is being run in partnership with Project Management Zimbabwe (PMZ) from July to November 2019. Over 100 CSO representatives drawn from across the country are being mentored in small groups in the ongoing programme in Harare.
Participants have been segmented into four (4) groups with the largest beneficiaries being the 50 UNAIDS participants who have already gone through the Certificate of Competency in Project Management (COCPM). The other remaining groups have been segmented to receive project management certification based training covering PMP (Project Management Professional) and PRINCE2 (Projects In Controlled Environment) methodology.
According to the UNDP Programme Coordinator Mrs Nokuthula Mujuru, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe and other developing countries have experienced a changing environment in care for HIV over the last few years. There are stronger and different treatment approaches to HIV being implemented mainly by the CSO and yet funding for civil society groups have dwindled. The changing institutional landscape highlights the urgent need for civil society to review, redefine its role and reposition themselves to contribute to the response to HIV and health generally, considering the linkages between HIV and other health issues. It is important that civil society groups adapt to the changing landscape to the response to remain relevant, considering that they are key player in the fight to ending the AIDS epidemic.
The question that arises is “How can CSOs in HIV adapt to respond appropriately to the changing landscape and the clarion call for access to health?” As Government provides most of the services including prevention and treatment to PLHIVs, civil society groups can focus on support adherence to treatment, support marginalised and key populations to enable access to both prevention and treatment, including providing watchdog roles in the communities.
For CSOs to be able to conduct such activities, there is need to strengthen their individual skills and organizational systems. Is it against this background that UNDP has rolled out this CSOs training programme targeting participants from across the country.
One of the COCPM delegates Mr Kasirai Hweta from Loving Hand Bulawayo, said the course was quite relevant as it is going to improve on the deliverables in their projects.
“As we are going to start new projects we are going to start on a firm foundation as we now know the things that are supposed to be done before a project starts and during the implementation hence an improvement in the outcome.
“Sometimes we do things haphazardly due to poor planning, but with the skills that I have acquired at this course I am even going to improve on the ongoing projects that we are running now”, said Mr Hweta.
Phillipa Mhike from the Sexual Rights Centre in Gweru said the training was very insightful and delightful as it focused on aspects which if applied rightfully can yield positive results. Mhike confirmed that the training touched on other important aspects which in most cases project managers take for granted. “One of the key areas that the training focused on was the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) which most of us take for granted. In most cases we don’t really consider the sharing of duties yet it’s important for a project to be a success,” she said.
In another sentiments, Jabulani Tshabalala from Umguza in Matebeleland north said that the program was really exciting and applauded the facilitators from the Project Management Zimbabwe (PMZ) for coming with such kind of model of training. “I hope for such trainings to be scaled up so that all the CSOs in Zimbabwe funded by various partners can have this kind of approach which can actually perhaps satisfy the needs of stakeholders.
“Our facilitators were very motivating, knowledgeable and very patient with us, with very good time management skills. They managed to compress the long course in few days which is a very skilful approach.
Tonderai Chikono from Development Aid from People to people in Zimbabwe (DAPP), who was also the Group representative echoed same sentiments saying though the program was very educative and informative there is need in the future of extending duration for participants to really grab the important aspects of the course. Mr Chikono also said that in terms of participation, it was hyper and the participants were also eager to learn. “The participation was a two-way form as both the facilitators and participants created room for interaction,” he said
Following are photos from the programme.
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How to cite this report: Banda, P. (2019). Project Management Update from Harare, PM World Journal; Vol. VIII, Issue X, November. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/pmwj87-Nov2019-Banda-Zimbabwe-Report.pdf
About the Author
Peter Banda
Harare, Zimbabwe
Peter Banda is an agile Portfolio Manager with Change Management, Marketing & Project Management Skills, and an accomplished entrepreneur with broad stakeholder management experience. He is a founder of Zimbabwe’s largest Association of Project Managers with a membership of over 1000, Project Management Zimbabwe (PMZ – formerly called Project Management Institute of Zimbabwe). He has worked in both the private & public sectors during the last 20 years in Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa. Peter is a born & passionate teacher, mentor & trainer with skills ranging from Personal Development Planning to Project Management. Peter has presented & published over 20 papers at high profile international conferences & leading newspapers & publications respectively during the last 8 years.
Peter is currently Secretary- General & CEO of PROJECT MANAGEMENT ZIMBABWE (PMZ). Responsibilities cover strategic navigation of PMZ towards the vision covering board advisory and stakeholder management. He was previously a Higher Education Examiner, Facilitator, Lecturer, Curriculum Developer and Assessor for both local and International Diploma and Degree courses for the Zimbabwe Ministry of Higher & Tertiary Education. He also served as an Examiner, Assessor and Facilitator on for SpringSoft in South Africa. Peter holds a Bachelors (Hon.) degree and MSc qualification, and is currently studying for a PhD & PMP exams. A God fearing father of 2 lovely daughters & 1 son, Peter likes reading & researching current affairs, coaching others to realise their dreams, and watching soccer & cricket.
Peter Banda can be contacted at PMIZ National Secretariat Office projectmanagementzimbabwe@gmail.com
To view original works by Peter Banda, visit his author profile in the PM World Library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/peter-banda-2/