Strengthening Project Management Skills: VIS Training in Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — From December 1st to 5th, 2025, representatives from nine Planning and Development Offices (PDOs) across Africa convened in Addis Ababa for an intensive Project Management Cycle training. Organized by VOLONTARIATO INTERNAZIONALE PER LO SVILUPPO (VIS), Italy, the training aimed to strengthen essential project management skills among participants.

A total of 23 attendants, including VIS facilitators, took part in the five-day session. PDO AGL was represented by Felicien DUSABIMANA and Dominic UWARUGIRA. Other invited PDOs included ACC, AFC-Lubumbashi, AFC-Goma, AET, AON, AOS, CAN, and ANG.Building on Online Engagement

This face-to-face training was a direct follow-up to a previous online session. During the opening, VIS representative Emanuela Chiang expressed gratitude to the PDOs for their active participation in the online program, which she noted was instrumental in paving the way for the in-person engagement.

Participants echoed this sentiment, highlighting the previous online training’s importance in solidifying their knowledge base and skills. Many appreciated VIS’s continued support in making both the online and in-person components possible. The organizing team acknowledged the participants’ commitment and noted that the high level of online engagement significantly contributed to the success of the current training.Practical Application: Needs Assessment Case Study

A central component of the training was a practical case study presented by Mrs. Rebeca, which focused on the Don Bosco Children of Addis Ababa, specifically addressing the issue of street children in the city.

The needs assessment provided a clear, real-world example, serving as inspiration for PDOs as they prepare their own assessments. This practical approach emphasized the necessity of a thorough needs assessment as the foundation for any successful project.Core Training Content and Tools

The VIS team focused heavily on three fundamental project management tools: the Problem Tree, the Objective Tree, and the Logical Framework (Log-frame).

As an application exercise, each PDO was tasked with developing a reflection document based on a specific, identified problem within their respective provinces, with a focus on at least one center. Furthermore, participants engaged in a study tour at the Mekanisa Don Bosco School, which facilitated an exchange of best practices.

The training also offered detailed instruction on complementary needs assessment methodologies, including:

• Questionnaires (for breadth of information)
• Interviews (for depth of understanding)
• Focus Groups (for collective perspectives)
• Key Informant Interviews (KII) (for expert insights)

Support materials were shared via Google Drive to ensure participants could continue to utilize these tools long after the training concluded.Focus on Final Submissions

The training concluded with a recap session by the VIS team, which re-emphasized the critical importance of employing diverse tools for needs assessments. After addressing participants’ questions and clarifying points, the team facilitated a final evaluation of the program.

Each PDO worked diligently on developing their problem tree, objective tree, and log-frame. The training formally concluded with the requirement for all PDOs to finalize and submit their complete needs assessments to VIS by December 23rd, 2025.