This semester, HAF’s Mouhssine Tadlaoui-Cherki is teaching Project Design and Management to Masters Degree students at the Center for Community Consensus-Building and Sustainable Development – created in 2008 by HAF and Hassan II University in Mohammedia. We asked Mouhssine a few questions (Q), and here are his answers (A):

Q: First, you said you have 15 students. Can you give some examples of how this training will help them?

• A: During an activity where participating students expressed their own objectives of the training program, most of them stated that they wanted to gain practical experience in project design and management techniques so they could actively contribute to nonprofit associations they are involved with or planning to start with other students

Q: What has been some specific feedback from the students about why they feel positive about this training in particular?

• A: In the last evaluation session, participating students particularly appreciated the facilitating techniques used to present the concepts and the use of various examples to practice the techniques. One student wrote “The training sessions … gave me a sense of … the project cycle”. Another student wrote “I feel this training is providing me, to a good extent, with skills and insights to be effective in my community.”

Q: Can you give a specific example of one of the techniques you teach?

• A: After presenting the concepts of project design and management and characteristics of sustainable projects, students practiced goal-oriented project planning techniques, which included:
  • 1- Participatory needs assessment, including the analysis phase (Participation analysis, problems analysis, objectives analysis, and alternatives analysis)
  • 2- Project planning phase including developing a project plan matrix or project framework.

Q: Lastly, how do you feel about the training?

• A: So far, I feel good about the training. The students are receptive and seem to be gaining new knowledge and skills, which they are eager to put into good use. After a few more training sessions, they should be ready to go out into the field and start practicing the techniques with different community groups.