Objective

The key objective of this assignment is to critically assess the rationale and outcomes of a specific development project. The goal is to arrive at a deeper understanding of a particular development issue of interest to the student, and a better appreciation of the interplay between policy objectives, stakeholder groups, resource allocation, and the diversity of possible outcomes. We have selected four projects and students will choose one from among them. The titles, brief descriptions, and links to the projects are provided at the end of this document.

1. Begin by choosing one of the projects from the given choices. Make your decision based on your interest of the topic or related issues.

2. Write up a report on your assessment of the chosen project. The report should be no more than seven pages (not including diagrams and bibliography).

Your report should consist of the following sections:

I. Introduction

Describe briefly the nature of the development project you have chosen and explain why you have chosen the project to analyse. Brief information about the location and the geopolitical context of the site should be provided. Use a thesis statement to identify the core message of your paper.

II. About the project

Describe the specific key objectives of the project.

Identify the funding mechanism of the project, and the sources of funding.

Identify the key players or stakeholders of the project. Who is supposed to benefit from the initiative?

III. Analysis

Identify the successes and obstacles encountered by the project. How and why did they arise? Other questions you may ask include:

• What are the actual outcomes of the project so far and are they meeting the initial objective?
• Were there sufficient considerations for the cultural and social context of the target population when the project was rolled out?
• What other factors contribute to the success or failure of the project?  
• Is the project sustainable and scalable and is there any evidence for this?
• Do you think it is replicable (i.e. can it be duplicated in another context)?

Explain, and what would be some potential obstacles to its replicability (as well as its sustainability and scalability).

• How could the project be improved or made more effective.
• Your personal assessment of the project in terms of its value and contribution to the understanding of development

IV. Conclusions

• Did the project and the exercise deepen your understanding of the particular development issues?
• Sum up the main ideas presented