planning projects and learning by doing ingrid håstad sweco international

ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL COURSE IN LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREAS 2010 AFRICA

Planning Projects and Learning by Doing

Ingrid Håstad

SWECO International

[email protected]

www.swecogroup.com


What is a Successful Project?

How to optimize the outcome of the project/programme/process

Please interrupt! I want a dialogue! Sharing of experience…


Complexity of Administrative Levels

Government EU

Central Agencies e.g. EPA, MoH

Ministry of Finance Ministry of Environment

Regional Boards

Local administrations, e.g. health, environment

Municipal government Consultants

NGO’s


Some Problems Identified

Within all organizations: Lack of resources, prioritization needed Difficult to manage environmental nerds

(enthusiasts!)… Hierarchy? No personal responsibility Fear of making decisions.. Fear of change.. Easier to focus on details than

the complex issues


Small vs Large Organisations

Shorter decision routes in small units Wider spectrum of competence in

large organisations Difficult to bear costs and lack of

resources in small units In large org.’s – loss of coordination

and co-operation Easier to “hide” in large org’s Etc.


Some Problems Identified

In the vertical context:

Roles and responsibilities unclear Lack of understanding of the needs in

other levels All donors want to force their opinion

and system onto the beneficiary....


Some Solutions to Successful Projects?

Sell the project to all relevant parties, training, awareness raising…

Assume personal responsibility, don’t hide behind the boss!

Stop protecting your “reserves” Sometimes better to make the

wrong decision than no decision at all (that is also a decision!)

Prioritize


More Solutions for Successful Projects?

Meet informally! Networking Try role play, change roles Take responsibility Training and networking

Quote from the Boss: 'Teamwork is a

lot of people doing what I say.'


Some Examples of Projects

and examples of problems

encountered…. and lessons learned


Latvia, Regional Waste Mgmt Plan


Cyprus SWM Plan


Iraq, SWM Plan and HCW Plan for Baghdad


HCW Management in Baghdad


Consultancy Roles

Beneficiary/Client

Financer

Other stakeholders Authorities


The Project SchemePhase 1

Project Award

Euphoria!



Design phase

Total confusion..



Tender opening

Catastrophe!



Construction phase

The chase of the Guilty



Final Inspections

Punishment of the Innocent


Lessons Learned

There is nothing permanent except change – Heraclitus

You are responsible for your life and actions – do not hide behind authorities or the boss

Some keys to successful projects:

Flexibility and allow adequate inception period Modify ToR if needed - focus on the end results More long-term assignments


Lessons Learned

More keys to successful projects:

Define roles and accept responsibility (ownership) Consultant and Client partnership – Exit strategy More focus on soft issues, rather than technical stuff! Networking

planning projects and learning by doing ingrid håstad sweco international

Documents

local environmental

urban areas

successful projects

africasome solutions

large organisationsdifficult

large orgsetc

wrong decision

lack of resources