The Centre for Social Research’s Project Proposal Development Course targeting researchers, consultants, NGO and government staff was held from 23 rd July to 03 rd September 2018 in Zomba. The course was designed to enhance the capacity of the target group to develop competitive project proposals for funding by familiarising them with
requisite skills and knowledge.

The objectives of the course were that at the end of it, participants should be able to:

•  Identify and develop a comprehensive statement of the problem of the proposal
•  Identify and describe appropriate study designs and study types for the proposal
•  Identify appropriate implementation strategies for programs
•  Understand principles of data analysis
•  Understand how to prepare appropriate budget

The course lasted for 2 weeks and comprised of comprehensive theoretical and practical parts
and covered the following areas:

•  Overview of proposal development
•  Need or problem statement
•  Background and literature review
•  Formulation of goals and objectives
•  Research designs and methods of data collection
•  Development and implementation of programme intervention
•  Evaluation of progress
•  Management plan/implementation arrangements
•  Research ethics
•  Institutional capacity an experience
•  Utilisation of results
•  Application guidelines and review criteria
•  Structure of proposals for research and programs
•  Formulation of budget ceilings and allowable costs
•  Examples of proposal formats from different development partners/donors
•  Why project proposals fail?

At the end of the course, participants presented their proposals for peer review after which
they received their certificates of attendance from CSR’s Director Prof Blessings Chinsinga
and the Deputy Director Dr Chrissy Kantukule.