Course 2014-2015 a.y.

20278 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS


CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLAPI - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - M (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - IM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - MM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - AFC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLAPI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLELI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - ACME (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - DES-ESS (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - EMIT (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)
Course Director:
GIOVANNI FATTORE

Classes: 31 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: GIOVANNI FATTORE


Course Objectives

The project approach is a major mean for promoting socio-economic development. The World Bank, UN agencies, European Union, national governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rely on projects and programs to promote and sustain endogenous economic grow and societal development and to face exceptional events (peace-keeping, natural disasters, Olympic games). The knowledge of these development programs is relevant for public, private and non profit entities, which could benefit from the financial opportunities offered or the cooperation with these international Institutions. The course pays specific attention to European financial programs, devoted to EU countries but also to external regions (the EU is one of the largest international donors).
The course has three main objectives:

  • to illustrate the main types of projects/initiatives endorsed by the EU and other international organizations and the financial approaches used by these agencies (grants and subsidies, project finance, mezzanine financing, public/private venture capital);
  • to let students acquiring practical skills about projects calls for proposals and tenders;
  • to make students familiarize with approaches and techniques of project cycle management (from writing a good project proposal to monitoring and evaluating an international program/project) and applied cost-benefit analysis.

    The course exposes students to the main systems used by international organizations to fund and evaluate projects carried out by enterprises, non governmental organizations and public institutions. Students also learn how to design and manage projects in a variety of challenging contexts (e.g. in poor countries and after natural disasters).

Course Content Summary

  • International funding and development programs managed by EU, BEI, World Bank, National Governments, Major donors.
    • Principles and approaches to international project funding.
    • Managing Institutional lobbying with International Institutions.
    • Funding for local public Institutions (mainly for infrastructures and development programs, i.e. structural funds and project financing).
    • Funding for enterprises: grant, guarantees, equity finance, mezzanine financing, mixed venture capital, state aid regime.
    • International cooperation and aid programs.
    • EU funds for domestic development and international co-operation.
    • Funding programs of development banks (World Bank, African Development Bank, ERBD).
  • Program design and evaluation.
    • Methodologies for the program design (appropriate financial tool selection and beneficiaries selection).
    • Ex ante and ex post analysis.
    • Impact evaluation.
  • Project management of international development projects.
    • Project cycle management.
    • Logical framework.
    • International public procurement.
    • How to write a successful application (to call for tenders and call for proposals).
    • Major issues in managing international projects.
    • Strategic approach to public funds and grants.
    • International partnerships and alliances.
    • Budgeting, accountability and reporting.


The teaching approach is based in a hands on approach: class presentations, cases and application discussions. Notably, students are asked to develop, in small groups, a project bid for participating to an international tender and a project proposal to get access to a grant program. Some specific exercises are assigned, and may be discussed in class, on cost benefit analysis and logical framework.

Some guest speakers are hosted during the course to expose students to the main challenges of international project management.


Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

For non attending students

Written exam or oral exam: students can choose the most suitable form (100%).
We strongly encourage students to take the course as attending students, even if they cannot attend several classes, due, for example, to internship leave. We will give the option to do assignments (case analysis, exercise and homeworks) to be assisted by instructors, to follow guest speeches (live or recorded) and e-learning modules specifically designed on the main topics of the course. For partially attending students, the oral or written exam covers the issues not included in the assignments and project works and it weights 30% of the final mark.

For attending students

  • Two assignments (20%).
  • Project bid preparation for international tender (20%). 
  • Project proposal preparation (30%). 
  • Written exam or oral exam - students can choose the most suitable form (30%), on issues not covered by assignments and project works.

There is no partial exam for this course. Attendance is valid for all exam sessions.


Textbooks

  • V. VECCHI, EU Funds, strategy & management, Milano, Egea, 2012. 
Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Prerequisites

NONE
Last change 25/03/2014 15:30