Development Project Proposal Writing Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Proposal Writers, Programme Managers and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 7 Nov 2026 Course code SD-NM-041

Before you join: Participants should have experience working in an NGO, development programme, humanitarian response, donor-funded project or related support function.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Development and humanitarian organisations must turn field evidence into proposals that fit donor rules, persuade technical evaluators and can be delivered within stated budgets and timeframes. Weak bids often describe serious needs but fail to show a credible results pathway, measurable indicators, realistic costs, managed risks or clear accountability to affected people. Proposal teams also lose marks through missed eligibility requirements, disconnected logframes and budgets, unsupported claims, and poorly controlled submissions. These errors waste scarce staff time and can prevent sound programmes from reaching funding decisions.

This five-day course develops the practical methods used to design and write development project proposals for institutional donors, foundations and humanitarian funding mechanisms. Participants assess funding opportunities, analyse needs and stakeholders, build a Theory of Change, develop logical frameworks, define indicators, prepare workplans, cost activities and address compliance requirements. The course also covers donor-oriented writing, evidence use, risk management, safeguarding, partner roles, quality assurance and submission control.

Instructor-led sessions combine short briefings with case work based on realistic development and humanitarian funding calls. Participants apply methods to a proposal scenario, review draft sections against evaluation criteria and test consistency between the narrative, logframe, budget and implementation plan. They leave with a structured proposal development pack containing reusable templates, checklists and planning tools for live funding opportunities.

The course suits NGO staff who contribute to fundraising, programme design, grants management, monitoring and evaluation, finance or partnership development. It is particularly relevant for teams moving from activity descriptions towards donor-ready project design and evidence-based proposal writing.

What you will be able to do

  • Assess donor opportunities using a documented go/no-go scorecard
  • Construct problem trees and stakeholder analyses from needs assessment evidence
  • Develop a Theory of Change and Logical Framework for a development project
  • Formulate measurable results, indicators, baselines and verification sources
  • Prepare activity-based budgets and donor-compliant budget narratives
  • Design workplans, risk registers and implementation arrangements for proposed projects
  • Write donor-focused technical narratives aligned with evaluation criteria
  • Review complete proposals for compliance, consistency, scoring strength and submission readiness

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Write stronger proposal sections using donor evaluation criteria and evidence
  • Contribute confidently to logframe, budget and narrative development meetings
  • Recognise weak assumptions, unsupported claims and inconsistent project logic
  • Build a reusable method for planning proposals under tight submission deadlines
  • Demonstrate practical proposal development capability through a certificate of completion

For your organisation

  • Improve bid quality through clearer results chains, indicators and costed activities
  • Reduce avoidable disqualifications caused by missed donor instructions and attachments
  • Create stronger alignment between programme, finance, MEAL and partnership contributors
  • Produce more realistic implementation plans with documented risks and accountabilities
  • Retain reusable proposal tools that support consistent future funding submissions

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can assess whether a funding opportunity fits their organisation and proposed project.

  • Donor intelligence using published priorities, calls, eligibility rules and award histories
  • Funding opportunity screening against mandate, geography, capacity and compliance requirements
  • Go/no-go decisions documented through a bid qualification scorecard
  • Mapping donor decision-makers, technical reviewers, partners and affected stakeholder interests
  • Value proposition statements linking organisational evidence to donor priorities
  • Bid calendars aligned with deadlines, approvals, co-financing and partner inputs

Participants can define a well-evidenced development problem and identify affected stakeholders.

  • Stakeholder analysis separating rights-holders, duty-bearers, implementers and gatekeepers
  • Problem trees distinguishing root causes, immediate causes and visible effects
  • Needs assessment evidence triangulated from secondary data, consultations and disaggregation
  • Gender, age and disability analysis using Washington Group question principles
  • Conflict sensitivity assessed through dividers, connectors and do-no-harm risks
  • Context narratives substantiated with credible sources, dates and geographic specificity

Participants can build a coherent results pathway from identified problems to intended outcomes.

  • Theory of Change pathways linking interventions, assumptions, actors and outcomes
  • Logical Framework Approach from goal through outcomes, outputs and activities
  • Assumption testing using evidence, influence analysis and contingency actions
  • Outcome statements written as measurable changes for defined population groups
  • Output definitions separated from activities, inputs and longer-term outcomes
  • Horizontal logic checking indicators, verification sources and critical assumptions

Participants can design appropriate project approaches, targeting arrangements and accountability measures.

  • Targeting criteria combining vulnerability, severity, exclusion and operational feasibility
  • Response options compared through appropriateness, cost, risk and community preferences
  • Service delivery models defining channels, referral pathways and quality controls
  • Participation mechanisms specifying consultation, feedback and decision-making roles
  • Accountability commitments aligned with Core Humanitarian Standard requirements
  • Partner roles allocated through comparative advantage and due-diligence findings

Participants can prepare a credible measurement plan for proposed project results.

  • Results frameworks connecting indicators, baselines, targets and data responsibilities
  • SMART indicators specified with unit, disaggregation, frequency and calculation method
  • Indicator reference sheets defining sources, tools, limitations and quality checks
  • Baseline plans distinguishing primary collection, secondary data and proxy measures
  • Data quality assessments covering validity, reliability, precision, integrity and timeliness
  • OECD DAC criteria integrated into evaluation questions and learning plans

Participants can translate project design into a sequenced implementation and risk management plan.

  • Work breakdown structures translating outputs into sequenced deliverables and activities
  • Gantt charts assigning dependencies, milestones, owners and realistic durations
  • Critical path analysis identifying schedule constraints and management attention points
  • Risk registers scoring likelihood, impact, mitigation owners and trigger indicators
  • Safeguarding risk controls addressing prevention, reporting, response and survivor-centred practice
  • Scenario planning for access restrictions, displacement, inflation and climate shocks

Participants can develop activity-based budgets that are credible, compliant and clearly explained.

  • Activity-based budgets deriving quantities, unit costs, timing and budget narratives
  • Cost assumptions supported by quotations, payroll data and procurement records
  • Direct and indirect costs classified under donor-specific cost eligibility rules
  • Budget narratives explaining calculation bases, phasing and material cost drivers
  • Co-financing and cost-sharing documented without double-counting restricted resources
  • Value-for-money analysis using economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity

Participants can organise proposal content and supporting documents to meet donor requirements.

  • Donor instructions converted into a compliance matrix and submission checklist
  • Proposal sections structured around evaluation criteria, scoring weights and word limits
  • Evidence claims supported by programme data, audits, evaluations and citations
  • Technical narratives balancing beneficiary needs, methods, feasibility and measurable results
  • Cross-cutting commitments addressing protection, inclusion, environment and anti-corruption
  • Annexes coordinated across budgets, logframes, workplans, staffing and partner documents

Participants can write clear, evidence-based proposal narratives that address donor scoring priorities.

  • Executive summaries presenting need, solution, results, credibility and funding request
  • Donor language mirrored accurately without copying call text or jargon
  • Plain-language drafting using active voice, concrete nouns and short sentences
  • Win themes threaded through narratives, evidence, budget and implementation plans
  • Graphics selected for decision usefulness: maps, timelines, tables and results chains
  • Editing passes checking logic, consistency, readability, terminology and numerical accuracy

Participants can review a proposal systematically and plan its completion for a live opportunity.

  • Red-team reviews testing compliance, evaluator questions, gaps and scoring weaknesses
  • Proposal scoring against published criteria using an evaluator score sheet
  • Version control protocols managing comments, approvals, filenames and final authority
  • Submission readiness checks confirming portals, signatures, attachments and deadline timing
  • Clarification responses prepared from evidence files, decision logs and partner confirmations
  • Personal application plans scheduling live opportunities, collaborators and first drafting actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Donor opportunity qualification scorecard
  2. Problem and objective tree template
  3. Theory of Change and logical framework model
  4. Indicator reference sheet template
  5. Activity-based budget and narrative template
  6. Proposal compliance and quality assurance checklist

Who should attend

  • Proposal Writers — improve the structure, evidence and scoring strength of funding applications
  • Programme Managers — convert programme ideas into feasible, costed donor proposals
  • Business Development Officers — qualify opportunities and coordinate competitive bid development
  • Grants Managers — ensure proposals meet donor rules and handover requirements
  • MEAL Officers — define credible indicators, baselines and data collection arrangements
  • Finance Officers — prepare defensible budgets, cost assumptions and financial narratives

Skills and tools covered

Donor opportunity assessmentLogical framework designResults measurement planningActivity-based budgetingProposal narrative writingBid quality assurance

Tools and standards

Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Theory of Change, OECD DAC evaluation criteria, Core Humanitarian Standard

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings to introduce proposal development methods, followed by facilitated case work based on realistic NGO and humanitarian funding calls. Participants analyse donor requirements, develop project logic, draft selected proposal components and review submissions from an evaluator perspective. Group exercises test decisions on targeting, indicators, budgets, risks and writing choices. Simulations focus on bid review meetings, compliance checks and final submission decisions. Individual application planning connects the course methods to upcoming funding opportunities.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have experience working in an NGO, development programme, humanitarian response, donor-funded project or related support function. They should understand basic project activities, budgets and reporting terms, and be comfortable reading donor guidance and programme documents. Some involvement in proposal development, programme design, grants or fundraising is helpful. No prior formal training in proposal writing, logical frameworks, monitoring and evaluation, or donor compliance is required. The course does not assume advanced financial modelling or specialist sector knowledge.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should understand the basic purpose of development or humanitarian projects and have some workplace exposure to NGO programmes, grants, fundraising, finance or MEAL. Previous proposal writing training is not required.

Bring a current or recent donor call, concept note, project design document or proposal draft if you have one. Course materials and case documents are provided, so bringing live documents is useful but not essential.

It is designed for staff who contribute to donor proposals, including programme, fundraising, grants, finance, partnership and MEAL personnel. It is suitable for both proposal coordinators and technical contributors who write specific sections.

Project management courses focus on delivering approved projects. This course concentrates on designing, costing, writing, reviewing and submitting a fundable project proposal before an award decision.

Participants receive reusable tools for opportunity screening, project logic, results measurement, budgeting and bid review. These can be adapted for upcoming donor calls, internal concept notes and partner-led proposal processes.

Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. The course moves from donor fit and problem analysis through project design, budgeting, writing, review and submission planning.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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