Practical Project Management in Humanitarian and Development Contexts

Self-Study Certificate Course

Turning Experience into Results

Many humanitarian and development professionals bring strong technical expertise and field experience to their work. However, without systematic project management skills, even experienced practitioners struggle with the complexity of managing a project. Since projects are interconnected systems, one delay or change can cascade through budgets, timelines, and outcomes. Common challenges include:

• Managing by instinct rather than proven methodologies
• Difficulty translating field knowledge into formal plans and budgets
• Struggling with the shift from doing the work to managing the work
• Lack of frameworks for coordinating multiple stakeholders
• Uncertainty about adaptive management when contexts change

This practical training provides the systematic project management foundation that humanitarian and development professionals need, whether you're transitioning into management or seeking to strengthen your existing practice. You'll develop practical tools and frameworks that complement your experience while building confidence across the full project cycle.

Through this training, you'll be able to:

• Manage proactively rather than reactively
• Master the complete project cycle from initiation through evaluation
• Develop competencies in budgeting, monitoring, and reporting
• Build confidence in strategic planning and stakeholder coordination
• Integrate best practices into your management approach
• Apply adaptive management when contexts shift

Who This Is For

This training is for people working in relief, development, or humanitarian contexts aiming to strengthen their project management capabilities. It's ideal for:

• Project managers seeking a comprehensive framework to integrate their existing tools and knowledge
• Team leaders who want to move from reactive to adaptive management approaches
• Field coordinators building systematic project management capabilities
• Program officers developing stronger management competencies
• Experienced professionals looking to formalize and enhance their management practices

No prior experience needed—the course delivers clear, practical guidance for newcomers while providing strategic insights and advanced applications for seasoned practitioners.

How You'll Learn

This course offers a self-paced, practical learning experience, combining study materials, reflections, exercises, and end-of-module assessments. Designed around the real-world challenges faced by humanitarian and development professionals, the course encourages you to pause, reflect, and actively develop skills you can confidently apply to your own context as you learn.

Flexible self-study
Access practical downloadable video presentations, transcripts, handouts, exercises, templates and tasks, allowing you to learn and apply skills at your own pace.

Knowledge checks
Assessments at the end of each module test your understanding, reinforce learning, and help you reflect on key concepts.

Course Discussion Forum
Share questions, insights, and challenges with peers. Instructor Neil Kendrick monitors and responds regularly to support your progress.

Certificate of completion
Successfully complete all modules and assessments to receive your certificate.

Impact Stories

9.3/10 Rating (based on 39 reviews)

Course Details

Includes:

• Lifetime access to comprehensive modules with downloadable videos, handouts, and transcripts
• Practical templates and planning tools for immediate application
• End-of-module assessments and certificate of completion
• Course discussion forum to share insights and questions with peers

Course developed and presented by Neil Kendrick, founder of ELD Impact, with 25+ years of experience training humanitarian professionals across 20+ countries.