Project management plan

The country work will led in South Africa by Edward Lahiff, PLAAS; in Zimbabwe by Nelson Marongwe, CASS, UZ; and in Namibia by Wolfgang Werner, DRFN. Country coordinators will have responsibility for overseeing country team activities and ensuring outputs.

In addition, cross-cutting work will occur across three themes – i) concepts, ii) methodology and iii) policy. Discussions will involve the whole research project team, but will also require coordination and synthesis work by theme coordinators, Ben Cousins and Ian Scoones.

The project will hold annual meetings to review research findings and plan new activities, as well as deal with project management and governance issues. In collaboration with partners, the project coordinator at PLAAS will develop clear terms of reference covering institutional responsibilities and agreed programmes of work for all individuals and organisations contracted to the project. For new PhD posts an open competition will take place, with general advertising and a committee established for selection.

External review and guidance for the project will be set up as part of the engagement and networking strategy. At the project level, PLAAS will establish an international project reference group who will also act as a peer-review group for outputs.

Overall financial management of the project will be undertaken by Edgar Joshua, Business Manager at PLAAS. Established systems of budget management and control are in place, with PLAAS administration and management dealing with an annual turnover of R5 - R7 million from over 10 different international donors including DFID, IDRC, Ford Foundation, NORAD, European Union, GTZ, World Fish Centre, and SDC. Existing partnerships require regular international transfers of funds, and standard project accountability mechanisms are in place.