Projects are vitally important for the reconstruction and
development process in any country. Not only are projects the vehicle
for implementing the work in manageable elements, but a well designed
project document is also a productive means for engaging Donors to
provide funding to assist with the reconstruction process. The Agency
for Reconstruction and Development Inc. (ARD) was set up to facilitate
this process in Grenada.
A project is any undertaking that requires a concerted effort. It
begins with a glimmer of an idea and describes the steps that should be
followed to turn that idea or business need into a defined project with
a business case, a budget, a plan and resource commitments. It is
therefore a temporary endeavour that is undertaken to create a unique
product or service and it comprises an ambitious plan to define and
constrain a future by limiting it to set goals and parameters. The
planning, execution and monitoring of major projects sometimes involves
setting up a special temporary organisation, consisting of a project
team and one or more work teams.
The Projects section of the ARD is responsible for ensuring that
Government Ministries, ARD Departments, Statutory bodies and other
stakeholders charged with the task of project identification,
development, management and resources, coordinating, monitoring and
evaluating the implementation of these Projects are fully supported and
facilitated from project conception to execution to work efficiently
and effectively.
The Section can also take the lead in special projects, particularly
on cross-cutting issues. This is being achieved by providing assistance
as follows:
1. Project Identification and Development
Working with staff at all levels in the Ministries, ARD, and all
other participating organisations to refine project ideas, create
project concepts and profiles, produce project documentation and plans,
and to manage the Projects Approvals Processes.
The majority of projects identified to facilitate the reconstruction
of Grenada are assembled into the Reconstruction and Development
Programme (RDP), maintained by the ARD Project Section in order to
enable all stakeholders to appreciate the full-scale of the work
required. The RDP assists ARD and Ministries to agree on priorities and
the scheduling of projects.
2. Project Resourcing
Identifying, during the planning process, the need for human,
technical and financial resources, and working with Development
Partners to locate, mobilise and assist with the contracting and
management of those resources.
3. Project Coordination
Designing, installing and managing Information Management Systems
that will facilitate the coordination of all reconstruction and
development projects and activities, so that
- all stakeholders are informed about projects and their status
- the efficiency and effectiveness of projects/activities among multiple implementing agencies are maintained
- project data is collected and analysed so that project reporting will be timely and accurate
- the sourcing of donor funding is being maximised
A proactive approach to coordination is employed, thereby ensuring
that all those Departments and agencies involved in any Key Focus Area
regularly exchange information, ideas and develop common solutions. A
Coordination Database is being developed, to become the central
component of our Project Management and Coordination System.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
Collecting, collating and evaluating project status data in order to
assess and report on progress against plans, as well as advising
implementing agencies and Cabinet on corrective measures wherever
required.
5. Capacity Building
Working with Ministries, departments and public sector agencies to
identify project management and planning requirements, and assist in
developing professional capacity in these areas through training,
mentoring and hands-on collaboration during all stages of project cycle
management.
6. Cross-Cutting Issues
Some essential project areas do not logically fall into one of the
three Technical Directorates, largely because such projects impact all
sectors. Where necessary, the Projects Section takes the lead on
project development and management and ensures that contributions are
coordinated across all internal and external stakeholders. Examples of
issues in this category include Security and Public Sector management
and performance.
The Projects Section has three members of staff:
Robin Swaisland – Senior Projects Manager
Simone Lewis – Project Development Manager
Nirvani Gopal – Project Officer (Finance)
The section has spent most of its resources developing Project
Submissions for Ministries, ARD Departments and other implementing
agencies, compiling the RDP and managing the development of the
Coordination Database.
The following list gives examples of the Project Documentation that the Section has produced, including “work-in-progress”:-
- Youth Development and Empowerment – submitted to potential donor open
- Soft Loan Scheme Extension (Housing) –
- Smart School Pilot Project
- Support to GIDC - underway
- Forest Sector Rehabilitation - submitted to potential donors open
- Farm Land Utilisation Survey – completed open
- Plant Propagation Facilities
- Banana Ripening Facility
- Livestock Resuscitation
- Biotechnology Centre
- Agriculture Livelihoods Recovery – underway “open”
- Agricultural Enterprise Development Programme
- Job Fair and Employment Counselling Workshop - completed open
- New Mapping for Grenada - submitted to potential donors “open”
- Support to Physical Planning Unit – underway “open”
- NAWASA Water & Sanitation Projects
- Planning Legislation Review – underway “open”
Some of the above Project Submissions are available to view on this web site. Just click on the “open” icon.