Every project is an opportunity to create impact - but only if you know how to guide it with clarity, agility and vision. The ability to manage with confidence and flexibility, applying both traditional approaches and agile or adaptive methods, has become a key professional competence. This is even more true today, when resources are scarce, when we need to adjust rapidly to changing contexts, and when we must be ready to proactively address the challenges ahead. In this course, we take you through techniques that have stood the test of time - such as time scheduling with Gantt charts or leading your teams - as well as more recent approaches like agile and Scrum management. You will also explore the evolving world of Artificial Intelligence: what it can offer, where its limits lie, and how to use it responsibly to support your work. Throughout the programme, we ask: what makes a project complex? What makes it simple? And how can we manage both effectively? For those needing to specialize in project management in changing and complex contexts, we offer this online certification programme to provide the knowledge, technical skills and tools required to enable agile, adaptive and effective project implementation.
This course is designed for project managers, project implementation staff and chief technical advisers (CTAs), as well as professionals aspiring to these roles. We cater for projects funded by traditional donors, international financial institutions (IFIs) and innovative funding mechanisms with private or philanthropic funding for instance. Projects include those implemented through international organizations, governments or governmental agencies, and international or national NGOs. Participants are expected to be currently involved in the management or oversight of such projects, or to possess previous knowledge or work experience in project management.
Through self-study, practical assignments with feedback from your coach and the discussion with your peers, you will develop the ability to:
Course methodology
The course combines self-guided study with weekly webinars, collaborative exercises in a learner group, and written assignments supported by coaching. It is delivered through distance learning and deployed on the ITCILO e-campus. Each week, you will engage with online learning materials and complete a practical assignment based on your own project, receiving feedback and guidance from your coach. You will also have access to optional material on Artificial Intelligence to progressively strengthen your skills.
Expect to invest approximately eight to ten hours per week, for a total of at least 60 hours.
The course addresses project management in a comprehensive way, combining classical management approaches with agile, adaptive and AI-integrated methods. It connects you to peers in a truly global classroom, with participants from a wide range of public, private and non-profit backgrounds.
On successful completion of the programme requirements, you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement
This certificate shows that you have fulfilled all assignments, knowledge tests and other prerequisites to a minimum standard.
The complete effort amounts to at least 60 hours of learning
The certificate is an electronic certificate which is protected by block-chain technology and can be displayed on social media.