| 1. Strategic Alignment : Project Identification Overview |
| Strategic Alignment & Project Identification Guideline – click here to download [559KB] |
Project Identification is the process of selecting a theme to be further developed into a project concept. It outlines the location where the project will occur, the broad approach the project will take and the problem (need) to be addressed.
Strategic alignment is the strategy framework within which programmes and projects are initiated, funded and implemented and needs to be aligned to National, Provincial and Regional Government priorities. Lessons learnt from similar projects are incorporated here. This stage should result in:
Identification of projects which are aligned with the overall Programme strategy, Development priorities and Government objectives
Project selection which is relevant and feasible
This phase gives a strategic orientation which should guide the identification of projects. It also serves as background and introduction to programme and project managers, assuming that during the strategic planning and strategy review of the Development Agency had already considered all the elements which it briefly touched on during this phase.
| Note that Strategic Planning for the Development Agency is usually facilitated by an external facilitator and is beyond the scope of this toolkit. Overall programme budgeting is also not dealt with here as it is part of the strategic planning of Development Organisations. |
| Who is involved | What happens | Decisions made |
| Key Stakeholders Board of Directors Executive Management, Chief Operations Officer, Programme Managers Project Managers |
Assessment of regional and local socio-economic conditions, policies and an analysis of other initiatives | Overall Agency Strategy Approved
Programme strategies in alignment with Strategy Projects identified which would result in achievement of Programme outcomes (on-going) Annual Budget approval (not part of toolkit) |
| Tools and Guidelines | Where to find | |
| Strategic Planning | LED strategic planning Manual – see resources | |
| Logical Framework Process & Matrix | See stage 5 Monitoring & Evaluation | |
| Project Identification template | Stage 2 Tool 1 | |
| Partnership Development | Stage 2 Tool 2 | |
| Illustrations | ||
| Government Alignment map | Stage 2 Template 1 | |
| Strategy Map | ||
| Results Chain Framework | ||
| Stakeholders | ||
| Documents at end of this phase | ||
| 1. Overall Programme Strategy | ||
| 2. Strategic Map | ||
| 3. Results Chain of Overall Programme | ||
| 4. Project Identification and Concept document – work-in progress document stages 1-3 | ||
| Assessments to help ensure relevance and feasibility of a project idea: | ||
| 1. Policy and programming framework and alignment | NDP & IDP | |
| 2. Strategy analysis | Overall Strategic Plan | |
| 3. Budget availability | Overall Programme Budget | |
| 4. Quality assessment criteria | Stage 3 – See Quality Standards | |