Effective Project Management Certification Programme
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Effective Project Management Certification Programme
8 June–24 July 2026
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
Over the past decade, development cooperation practitioners have recognized and agreed on the shortcomings of the classic and rigid "waterfall" approach to project management. This is particularly true for institutional capacity-development projects, awareness-raising projects and those implemented in fragile contexts. Recent research on complex social systems and ways of addressing non-linear cause-and-effect relationships points in the same direction. The behaviour of the actors involved is unpredictable, making it essential to adopt an agile, tailor-made approach to project management. For those who need to specialize in project management in complex contexts, the ITCILO offers a certification programme to enable them to acquire all the knowledge, technical skills and tools necessary to ensure agile, adaptive and effective project implementation, taking into account the complexity of the social systems in which such projects take place.
Who attends this course?
The course is designed for project directors, project implementation staff and chief technical advisors (CTAs) of projects funded by international financial institutions (IFIs) or implemented through international organizations; development practitioners working in programmes and projects. Candidates are expected to be currently involved in the management or supervision of such projects. Previous knowledge or work experience in project management is an advantage.
What will I learn?
- A body of knowledge on theories of and approaches used to manage projects in contexts of uncertainty and in complex social systems
- Parameters for deciding how to organize project management (agile, hybrid or predictive models) tailored to the project context and its stakeholders to ensure effective project management
- Methods and approaches for planning, monitoring, reporting and controlling project delivery
- Soft skills for engaging the project team and managing stakeholder expectations and contributions
- Communication strategies to foster collaboration between project stakeholders, facilitate remote working, increase project visibility and report on results
What topics does this course cover?
- Establishing a common ground on the basics of Project Cycle Management
- Operational project planning
- Settings of complexity
- Agile and adaptive project management approaches and techniques
- Project governance structures, from traditional functional to remote models
- Stakeholder engagement, leadership, team management and communication
- Risk, procurement and financial management
- Monitoring, controlling and reporting, including remotely and using new technologies
What will I be able to do?
Through self-study and expert-guided assignments, you will learn to:
- Review your own project’s theory of change
- Assess the complexity of your project context
- Map your stakeholder network and plan for communication
- Design a project governance structure that is appropriate to the project's purpose and institutional context
- Design an operational plan
- Try out and evaluate agile planning and monitoring techniques
- Assess and plan the management of your project's risks
- Plan your project's monitoring, reporting and control functions
What certification will I get as a successful candidate?
- On successful completion of the programme requirements, you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement.
- This certificate demonstrates that you have the right knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage development projects using a coherent and customized blend of project management approaches.
- At the end of the programme, you will have developed unique and tailor-made project mechanisms as part of the certification programme - a great addition to your CV.
Why should I join?
The certification programme is organised in a blended modality. It includes a distance-learning phase followed by a one-week workshop in Turin on the United Nations Campus under the umbrella of the Development Cooperation Academy. Once participants have completed the workshop, they will then work remotely with the assistance of an expert on a final project and receive their certification. The entire programme consists of approximately 60 hours of learning.
- Project management skills are essential for development professionals.
- Integrating classical management methodologies with the latest agile and adaptive techniques is the best approach to maximize success.
- Participants receive a professional certificate attesting to their project management skills.
- The programme is designed and delivered by project management experts and practitioners.
- Participatory activities include self-guided modules, an online forum, practical assignments, coaching and tutoring.
- Participants receive permanent access to the Project Management Toolkit.
