Project implementation: main phases

To have a clearer idea of what happens after the award and signing of the Grant Contract, please have first a close look to the image below which reports the main periods in project implementation:

Project implementation is the primary responsibility of project leader and implementing partner(s). In particular, their responsibilities consist of the following:

• monitoring and regular review: project managers must keep track on how the project is progressing in terms of expenditure, resource use, implementation of activities, delivery of results and management of risks. On-going project monitoring is eventually complemented by a final audit;
• planning and re-planning of project activities, if necessary, on the basis of the logical framework matrix and activity and resource schedules prepared during project formulation;
• reporting on physical and financial progress to the donor(s) on standard forms if existing.

The EC main responsibility as a donor is instead to provide timely finance, management and technical support, to monitor project implementation and ensure an appropriate level of accountability for resources used and results achieved, and to capture and report on lessons learnt during implementation of projects and programmes.

In this section (Implementing) and in the following (Closing a project) you shall find guidance on each of these steps and reference to key documents and best practices.



Sources and useful links:

• PCM Guidelines (2004), section 4.5