====== OUR SERVICES ====== punto.sud responds directly to specific demands carried out by our clients in the following field of activity: * [[consultancy#proposal | Appraisal of project proposal]] * [[consultancy#study |Feasibility Study]] * [[consultancy#project |Project Management]] * [[consultancy#monitoring | Monitoring and Ex-post Evaluation]] * [[consultancy#procedures |Internal procedures development]] * [[consultancy#dev |Development of communication]] * [[consultancy#sar| Study and Research]] * [[consultancy#trainings |Training]] ===== Appraisal of project proposal ===== The objective is to facilitate the submission of projects and their approval by donors. The appraisal by punto.sud focuses on the following issues: * An assessment of the proposed project in relation to quality criteria elaborated by punto.sud, strictly taking into consideration the donors' evaluation criteria * A judgment on weather the requirements of the PCM guidelines have been adequately fulfilled * A judgment on weather the requirements of the donors' guidelines have been adequately fulfilled * Verification that any comments previously made by punto.sud have been addressed (eventually) The decision options could be either accepting the proposal or suggesting further modifications. On customers' request, punto.sud expert can be active both for maintaining contacts with donors and for completing the proposal. ===== Feasibility study ===== The objective is to verify whether the proposed project is well founded and is likely to meet the needs of its intended target groups/beneficiaries. The study will design the project in full operational detail, taking account of all policy, technical, economic, financial, institutional, management, environmental, socio-cultural and gender-related aspects. For feasibility studies, punto.sud uses commonly accepted instruments and procedures based on the Project Cycle Management and the Logical Framework Approach. The entire process foresees: * Stakeholder analysis * Problem analysis * Analysis of objectives * Analysis of strategies * Preparation of the Logframe matrix * Activity and Resource Schedules * Writing of the project proposal ===== Project management ===== The objective is twofold: 1. For the inception period: to facilitate the implementing organisation in the reviewing of the project proposal and in the management of the preliminary activities to start the project. Main outputs are the up-dating of the project design and/or the terms of reference and the setting of the work plan for the rest of the project. This phase starts with project start-up until the writing of the inception report, usually one to three months. Main activities in this phase include: * Review and revise project plan * Establish Monitoring & Evaluation systems * Establish working relationship with stakeholders * Hold inception workshop(s) * Procurement Plan revision * Conclude contracting arrangements * Mobilise resources 2. For the implementation phase: to facilitate the implementing organisation in the implementation of the project and in monitoring progress towards achieving objectives. Main activities in this phase include: * Help-desk day-to-day support * Procure and deploy resources, including personnel * Implement activities and deliver results * Monitor and review progress * Revise operational plans in light of experience * Report on progress * For the phase-out period: * a) Hand over all responsibilities to local partners * b) Ensure maintenance plans are in place * c) Ensure relevant skills are effectively transferred ===== Monitoring and evaluation ===== The objective is twofold: * 1. For monitoring: facilitate the systematic and continuous collecting, analysis and using of information for the purpose of management, decision-making and building partnerships. * 2. For evaluation: execute a periodic assessment of the efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and relevance of a project in the context of stated objectives. Specific focus is on drawing lessons that may guide future decision-making. ===== Internal procedures development ===== The objective is to provide clients with a support in the field of internal development of their structures in terms of effectiveness and accountability. This aim is reached through the establishment of a set of services defined on the basis of an analysis of the specific needs and practices of each single organisation. The main output is thus the draft /revision of internal procedures and practices guaranteeing the conformity with major donors requirements and the applicability of the procedures designed. Pre-audit control and the development of tools for procedures enforcement can be part of the whole process. ===== Development of communication ===== The objective is to inform beneficiaries, public and decision makers about the work and activity realised by the client organisation. This service has to be considered as part of a program aiming at capacity building of humanitarian aid workers and raising awareness of development and humanitarian issues in general. ===== Study and research ===== The objective is to facilitate the analysis and improve the knowledge on specifically identified topics, both in the field of international development cooperation and migration. Research could address, e.g., the programming process, new budget lines, the research/establishment of new partnerships, analysis and studies on Project Cycle management and/or evaluation and monitoring techniques, surveys for the development of new approaches in international development cooperation and migration. ===== Training ===== The objective is to deliver to client organisations ad hoc training programs targeting specifically identified needs. Among others, training could address: * General and/or specific themes within the field of international cooperation: Particularly: * Modules on Project Cycle Management (including all phases) * Modules on Monitoring & Evaluation techniques * Modules on specific budget lines * Modules on 2003 ECHO FPA * Modules on the application of the "SPHERE" manual * General and/or specific themes within the fields of immigration, with main emphasis on co-development and trans-nationalism. punto.sud experts are at disposal to prepare and implement training modules and/or participate to seminars/workshops targeting specifically identified topics in the fields of international cooperation and immigration. Training can be addressed either to personnel which is already active in the fields of international cooperation or immigration, or to unskilled or low-skilled future professionals.