Project Planning in Nepal

Project planning is concerned with the development of a project for investment. It consists of:

• Feasibility study to determine project implementability.
• Appraisal to evaluate project's ability to succeed, and
• Detailed engineering design and estimating to plan project implementation.

Most central level development projects in Nepal are planned by the donors. Most local level projects, however, are planned within the country by various agencies of the government or local authorities.

• National Planning Commission (NPC) is responsible for preparation of five year development plan. Projects are the primary means of translating development plans into action. NPC is responsible for identification, planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Central level projects should have approval of NPC. Local level projects should have approval of the Secretary f the concerned Ministry within the policy guidelines of NPC. The project approval is based on the appraisal of the project proposal. A format has been prescribed for preparing project proposal. A process has also been prescribed for approval of the project.

Contents of Project Proposal
The project proposal should contain the following information:

1. Outline of the Project: Objectives, location, duration.
2. Total Investment of the Project: Development, construction, operation, others.
3. Sources of Funds: Government, donors-loan, grant.
4. Returns from the project:
• Contribution to production increase
• Growth in employment
• Internal rate of return
• Other Economic and social benefits
5. Economic Analysis of the Project:
• Cost/benefit ratio
• Cost effectiveness estimates
6. Project Implementation: Schedule and budget.
7. Implementation Requirements: In terms of -
• Human Resources
• Construction materials
8. Project Operations: After completion and handover of project:
• Management arrangements
• Expenditure estimates for 3 years
• Income estimates for 3 years
• Approval of the Project

Project Approval
The project approval process is based on:

1. Consideration of project's fit with national objectives and sectoral strategies. If it is not included in the periodic plan, NPC concurrence should be obtained.
2. Recommendation of department head about the reasonableness of project costs in terms of current prices and cost benefit analysis.
3. The concerned ministry should approve and implement the project keeping in view the concurrence of NPC.

•  If the project is not included in the periodic plan or if the financial outlay is going to increase, the concurrence of NPC and Finance Ministry is needed.
• If the opinions of NPC and Finance Ministry differ, the project should be forwarded for cabinet approval along with project operation plan.

Project Planning

Project planning is concerned with development of project for investment. Planning is very important for effective implementation and controlling the project. It identifies and addresses the tasks required for accomplishment of project objectives. It acts as a road map for managing the project. It determines how the project objectives will be accomplished. It involves detailed design,k budgeting, scheduling and allocation of resources.

Project planning is the detail scheme for proper arrangement of necessary action, steps and means. So that the objective of the proposed project's objectives can easily be achieved within stipulated time, cost and quality. Project planning is the process of setting project's goal and defining action to achieve those goals. It is mainly concerned with development of project investment. It identifies all key project task to be accomplished and milestone should be achieved. It prepares detail schedules and then the schedules are used for procuring equipments, materials, organizing the required resources, sequencing and measuring task performance.

Need of project planning

• To establish and obtain greater understanding of project objectives and constraints.
• To arrange the available resources in a coordinated manner.
• To determine standard of performance evaluation and control.
• To avoid confusion and wastage.
• To identify the require time and resources for each task and total project.
• To determine the rules and responsibility of a project team members.
• To ensure greater communication and co-ordination.
• To reduce the risk and uncertainty.
• To provide a basis for project implementation through work down structure, scheduling and sequencing.
• To improve the efficiency of operation.

The tasks involved in project planning are:

• Feasibility Study: It determines the implementability of the project.
• Appraisal: It is evaluation of the project's ability to succeed. It is done after the feasibility study is done.
• Design: It is concerned with the preparation of :
• Detailed engineering design, including blueprints and specifications.
• Detailed implementation plan including schedule, cost estimates and allocation of resources.

Project planning is concerned with looking ahead at the future work plan of a project. It is deciding in advance about:

• What activities need to be done in the project?
• How the activities will be done?
• When the activities are to be done?
• Who will do the activities?

Project Planning, Organizing, Implementing

Project Planning

The project manager is responsible for preparation of detailed project plan. It involves:

• Definition of work requirements
• Scheduling of project
• Definition of resources needed
• Definition of quantity of work and specifications.

Project Organization Design

The project manager is responsible for designing the project structure by:

• Dividing project workload into tasks for job specialization.
• Grouping task and people into project divisions.
• Establishing authority-responsibility relationships for project personnel.
• Coordination mechanism for integration.
• Management of interfaces with the parent organization.

Project Implementation

The project manager is responsible for project implementation. The activities consist of:

• Awarding and managing contracts
• Appointing consultants
• Mobilization of resources
• Procurement of goods and services
• Solving problems as they arise
• Providing leadership
• Building a solid information network

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You may also like this:

• Project Analysis : Feasibility Analysis
• Project Life Cycle
• Project Implementation
• Project Formulation
• Project Specification
• Components / Elements of Project Specification
• Project Management Model

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