Beginner’s Manual for Project Proposal Writing 101
Not Another Boring Handbook: Learn to Write Successful Projects The RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia publishes the “Beginner’s Manual for Project Proposal Writing 101”. This Manual is conceptualized to support the advancement of project writing skills for the successful design of projects and initiatives that can connect the Western Balkan youth. It supports beginner practitioners to understand the structure of grant proposals, develop project elements and create inclusive youth projects. By offering a practical resource, the Manual includes a variety of exercises and tools on the topic. Most importantly, it draws on lessons learned from several trainings organized by RYCO and the OSCE field operations in the Western Balkans. The three thematic parts which lay at the center of the “Beginner’s Manual for Project Proposal Writing 101” are: ● Unwrapping grant-making logic and understanding processes behind the grant life cycle; ● Highlighting the importance of participation and diversity in youth mobility projects; ● Guiding through major project elements and technical aspects of project writing. RYCO and the OSCE Mission to Serbia hope that this Manual will serve as an important companion to all interested individuals, organizations and secondary schools.
Not Another Boring Handbook: Learn to Write Successful Projects
The RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia publishes the “Beginner’s Manual for Project Proposal Writing 101”.
This Manual is conceptualized to support the advancement of project writing skills for the successful design of projects and initiatives that can connect the Western Balkan youth. It supports beginner practitioners to understand the structure of grant proposals, develop project elements and create inclusive youth projects.
By offering a practical resource, the Manual includes a variety of exercises and tools on the topic. Most importantly, it draws on lessons learned from several trainings organized by RYCO and the OSCE field operations in the Western Balkans.
The three thematic parts which lay at the center of the “Beginner’s Manual for Project Proposal Writing 101” are:
● Unwrapping grant-making logic and understanding processes behind the grant life cycle;
● Highlighting the importance of participation and diversity in youth mobility projects;
● Guiding through major project elements and technical aspects of project writing.
RYCO and the OSCE Mission to Serbia hope that this Manual will serve as an important companion to all interested individuals, organizations and secondary schools.
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HOW TO WRITE A PROJECT?
Visibility and communication
How a project is communicated externally is a very important aspect. For the most part, the funding
authority would expect that the project incorporates this component, as more visibility means
expansion of information, impact and/or branding of the donor.
Project application templates may address this component through a single question. In some
cases, a thorough communication plan may be required, involving significant documentation
for reporting. The promotion of project content, a specific output or the overall message can be
planned as a result toward inspiring wider audience beyond direct target groups.
Creating a communication plan
…should ideally be the first step in your visibility engagement. This doesn’t have to be a super
complex document, but it should provide you with least with the overall framework, including:
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Who are you addressing?
What are your communication goals, what are you aiming to achieve – raise awareness,
information levels, grow your community, attract more beneficiaries, strengthen
your brand as an organization?
How will you know if your communication efforts work? Can you identify ways to measure
success?
What are the main messages you want to convey?
Have you budgeted for it?
Channels of communication
Your communication plan should also answer where your desired audiences are, and how can
you reach and engage them. Oftentimes, particular channels are used by default, without assessing
their functionality and appropriateness for the target group and type of content.
For instance, Alternative report on needs and position of youth in Serbia (2020) by
National Youth Council of Serbia indicates that:
➜ 98% of young people, age 15 to 30, use their phone as the main device for informing
➜ Less than 8% of youth are buying daily newspapers and weekly magazines
➜ More than 90% of youth have profiles on Facebook and Instagram
➜ Most used applications for communication are WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger
and Instagram DM (direct messaging).
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