Paul Mundy www.mamud.com

Concept notes

A brief summary of your project idea

What is a concept note? Brief summary of what you want to do in a

project: 1-6 pages Submit to donor or partner early in the project

conceptualization Asks the donor or partner:

Are you interested in funding this? Do you want to work with us on this? Does this fit into your strategy?

If yes, then submit a full project proposal Some donors call a project proposal a “concept

paper” (15-30 pages!)

Why concept notes? Forces you to write

down what you want to do early on Helps you

conceptualize Saves you work of

developing full proposal Danger of rejection a

lot of work Allows you to develop

ideas further

Gives donor or partner enough info to decide whether they are interested Helps them make

decisions Saves them work

Do not have to look at long documents

Lets them influence your ideas

Developing a project proposal

Send a concept note

Evaluation by donorNo contact with them allowed!

Develop project idea Look for potential donors or partnersCheck their strategy

Discuss informally with your contacts in the partner or donor organization

Develop full proposalJointly with partner or donor?

Send concept note to donor as part of competitive bid

Send them full proposal

Interested?Interested?

Interested?

Simple concept noteText Title Introduction Purpose or rationale Project description

Goals Activities Benefits expected

Lists Project implementer Location Timing, duration Partners Beneficiaries Indicators of achievement Budget

Total amount Major categories

Contact info

A GIZ model: used for partners in India Title Introduction Objectives and activities Location Stakeholders

Beneficiaries Collaborators

Executing agency and structure Duration and budget Results matrix

2 pages

Form used by Cities Alliance 4-page form, full of instructions and guidance Fairly detailed description of the project Completed form = 6 pages

Cities AllianceSection 1 - General proposal information (1 page)1.1 Title of proposed project

1.2 Submission date

1.3 Proposal submitted by

1.4 Contact person

1.5 Recipient organization

1.6 Other implementing organization

1.7 City Alliance members sponsoring the project

1.8 Type of sponsorship

1.9 What is the main project theme?

1.10 Geographic scope of the project

1.11 Expected project duration

1.12 Budget summary

Section 2 – Project background

(1 page)2.1 Project background and rationale What is the context of the project? What are the key issues to be

addressed? Why is this project needed? How different it is this project from

other or earlier projects on the same issue?Lots of detail!

Cities Alliance (2)

Section 3 – Project description

(2 pages)

3.1 Project objectives and results What is the main objective of the

project? What are the expected outcomes

of the project What are the main activities and

outputs of the project?

3.2 Project approach How does this project initiate,

complement and/or leverage other urban development programmes?

How will the project facilitate broad participation of stakeholders and build partnerships among urban actors?

How will the project scale up and institutionalize its approach?

How will the project engage financing partners to provide capital for the implementation of plans and strategies to be developed by the project?

How will the project capture experiences and results, facilitate learning processes and disseminate knowledge?

More detail!

Cities Alliance (3)Section 4 – Project and fiduciary risks and arrangements (1 page, checkboxes)4.1 Project risks Will the project entail any social

risks? Will the project entail any

environmental risks? Will the project entail any other

risks including, but not limited to political and financial risks?

If the answer was yes to any of the three above questions, please describe the type of risks involved in the project and the mitigating measures to be undertaken to minimize those potential adverse impacts.

4.2 Fiduciary risks Is the Recipient a registered

organization under the countries’/cities’ legal requirement?

Can the Recipient provide proof of registration and years of operation?

Does the Recipient have (or can open) a bank account?

Is the Recipient liable for audit? Does the Recipient follow any

Procurement Guidelines and if so can this document be provided for review?

Is the Recipient familiar with World Bank Procurement Guidelines?

4.3 Project implementation arrangement

4.4 If approved, would this activity have no-objection by the national government?

Even more

detail!

Cities Alliance 4

Key activities

Who Year 1 Year 2 Budget

Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2

1. Component

1.1 Activity

1.2 Activity

1.3 Activity

1.4 Activity

2. Component

2.1 Activity

2.2 Activity

2.3 Activity

2.4 Activity

Section 5 - Project schedules and deliverables (1 page)

And a detailed

budget too

If they give you a form

Fill it in! Put your information into the correct headings Answer the questions

Don’t just cut & paste Don’t repeat information in two places

References Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management. Writing a

concept note. www.sswm.info/content/writing-concept-note Research on Poverty Alleviation. 2007. Guidelines for

preparing concept notes and proposals for research on pro-poor growth and poverty in Tanzania. Special Paper 07.23. www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/REPOA%202007%20Guidelines%20for%20concept%20notes.pdf

Hanover Grants. Brief: How to write a concept paper. www.seu.ac.lk/free_downloads_thesis_research/Write-Concept-Paper.pdf

Providence College. Concept paper template. http://www.providence.edu/academic-affairs/sponsored-research-and-programs/Pages/Concept-Paper-Template.aspx