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.

• 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

• 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.

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 2023 Development Cooperation Academy (see below). 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.

The workshop in Turin is part of the Academy on Development Cooperation, this year's theme being: 

“Redefining the World of Work in Development Cooperation: Exploring the Convergence of Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, and Remote Management”

The Academy will bring together over 100 participants and experts. In addition to completing the workshop as part of the certification programme, participants will have the opportunity to participate a global forum during morning sessions on development cooperation.

Participating in the Development Cooperation Academy provides excellent networking opportunities, cutting-edge knowledge and innovation in the field of development cooperation, opportunities for personal development, and the occasion to develop a global perspective in the spirit of multilateralism. This is also an opportunity to broaden one's horizons both professionally and technically by keeping abreast of the latest trends and developments in the field. Participants will work together to define and gain a global perspective on the future of development cooperation work.