Project Design Certification Programme
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Project Design Certification Programme
8 June–24 July 2026
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
The Project Design Certification Programme enhances participants' knowledge and skills in designing and writing project proposals, overseeing such processes. It also aims to improve participants' ability to identify and leverage opportunities to mobilize financial resources for projects. By sponsoring participants in this certification programme, and thereby professionalizing and certifying their staff, organizations will strengthen their institutional capacity to design and fund successful projects.
Who attends this course?
Technical specialists; national project coordinators; project managers and assistants; staff of international organizations; national development planning officials; NGO officials involved in the development of project proposals and resource mobilization activities.
Why a project design certification programme?
Organizations require their employees to develop and implement projects in their respective areas of specialization. These professionals are often highly specialized in their technical field, but lack the skills needed to design well-structured and complete projects.
This certification programme helps to bridge this skills gap and enhance the candidates’ personal skills, thereby strengthening their ability to design successful projects and to mobilize resources.
After all, a well-written project document is the first step in ensuring project success, and is the best entry point for fundraising and partnership building.
What will I be able to do?
- Identify project opportunities for an organization
- Use a range of tools and techniques to identify, design, plan, and budget projects
- Develop a project document and mobilize resources
- Identify potential development cooperation partnerships as the privileged entry point for fundraising
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 design development projects.
- At the end of the programme, you will have designed and completed a project document 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 design skills are essential for development professionals.
- Employers who sponsor participants will receive ready-to-use project documents.
- Participants receive a professional certificate attesting to their project design 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 Design Toolkit.
