At the heart of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), in the last two weeks of January 2025, a bustling energy filled the air as the Executive Director and members of staff of the organization gathered for an exciting new venture.
The days had arrived for an intensive training sessions on Programme Cycle Management (PCM) and Grant Management, two comprehensive subjects that were meant to equip the management and staff members of ISODEC with the skills to better design, implement, monitor, and evaluate their development programmmes.
The exciting and highly interactive sessions were facilitated by Mr Eric Banye, a Certified International Development and Management Consultant.
The training formed part of a project being implemented by ISODEC with support from STAR-Ghana Foundation. Dubbed, ‘Civil Society Strengthening Programme’ the project, aims at Strengthening Civil Society in Ghana to become more resilient, responsive and effective in delivering the priorities of its constituents.
Opening the training session with a brief comment, Mr Sam Danse, the Executive Director of ISODEC mentioned how important the training was, not only for the success of ISODEC’s current project and programmes but also for the future of the organization’s mission. He emphasized the need for all participant to take the training seriously, bearing in mind ISODEC’s commitment to implementing its new strategic plan to the fullest.
“Mr Danse noted that PCM is about creating programmes that are responsive to the real needs of our communities.”It’s about tracking progress, identifying challenges,and continuously learning so that we can deliver results that align with the objectives of our strategic plan.”
Taking participant through the trainings, Mr Banye indicated that the sessions were to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively manage the project cycle, from identification to evaluation, with a focus on practical application.
He introduced participants to the key phases of the PCM, including design,implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and Learning. Each phase, according to him, played a crucial role in ensuring that ISODEC’s initiatives were not only effective but also sustainable.
Mr Eric Banye making a Presentation
Introduction to PCM tools , Purpose of a Logframe , Components of a Logframe (Goal, Objectives, Outputs, Activities, Indicators, Risks),How to develop a Logframe – Logframe vrs Theory of Change versus Results Chain, were among the topics treated.
Participants were also taught the basics of project budgeting , Resource allocation as well as Risk Management in planning. They were further taken through grant management process including sources of grant, sustaining donor relation, building trust among others.
Mr Banye emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement during the design phase of a project.
The staff left the training with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. According to them, they now had a deeper understanding of PCM and Grant Management and how to implement them in ways that would improve the lives of countless individuals across their communities.
For ISODEC, the training marked the beginning of a new era, where programme and projects would be effective, more responsive and more sustainable.
By Mohammed Suleman/ Publicagenda.news
