Our approach to Project ManagementCapability Statement

About us Our pool of experts around the world combines international quality standards with local knowledge and respond to your working realities. We are continuously challenging ourselves to provide you with the best service possible. We consistently reflect on the quality of our work, and explore new approaches to keep abreast with our changing world. Our ISO 9001 certification ensures that we apply a suite of widely recognised and professionally accepted management systems that are robust and reliable.

MDF experts are both trainer and consultant

Our experts are involved both in training and consultancy activities to ensure they maintain a close link with day-to-day practices in the field whilst staying up-to-date with the latest concepts. We believe this way of working enriches our training courses and keeps our experts at the forefront of emerging ideas and best practices.

Our visionWe believe in an ever-changing world where there is a growing urgency to create more equitable societies, people who continue to develop themselves are best equipped to contribute towards making a sustainable difference.

Our missionOur mission is to foster competent professionals and improve the functioning of organisations and networks in order to increase their positive social impact.

Our core values (derived from the Rhineland Values)

√ We value long-lasting connections. We believe a healthy relationship and concern for the human factor are vital to success.

√ We consider trust as the basis for working together, between colleagues and in collaboration with partners and clients.

√ We believe in acquiring crafts(wo)manship. Being experts in our own respective fields and motivating our partners and clients to set their ambitions high too.

While no two projects are the same, we apply common principles that define the ‘MDF approach’ to managing projects. What matters most to us contributing to real meaningful change.

Creating meaningful change through co-creation Working together with others is what makes us tick. Playing the role of the ‘oil in the machine’ , we never work alone and we recognise the importance of complementarity in any collaboration. We always start by ensuring that all stakeholders are on board and can make a valued contribution to the project’s design and implementation. We believe in inclusiveness and collaboration based on the ambitions and strengths of local stakeholders.

√ Facilitating joint learning In everything we do, we place an emphasis on joint learning. We see it as our role to trigger reflection and facilitate collaboration to achieve the goals while leaving no one behind. We work jointly, we reflect and learn jointly.

√ Concern for context We understand that every project requires (behavioural) change to take place. Projects have to consider the local and institutional context in which they operate. We pay careful attention to conflicting needs, interests and cultures of collaboration. We feel at ease operating in different sectors: whether promoting access to quality and affordable water through public-private partnerships or creating employment opportunities in education. The project objectives that we formulate consider the change within the boundaries of the local context.

√ Promoting competent professionals Qualified and competent people are essential to any project. As this is often a journey into unknown areas, we create space for elaborating and realising the professional ambitions of the individuals involved in our projects. Our experts offer the experience necessary to manage change processes effectively in diverse contexts. They are certified to guide these personal development trajectories.

√ Enterprising mindset We challenge ourselves and our partners to think on their feet and innovate, encouraging them to find appropriate solutions for complex situations. An enterprising attitude is in our DNA, as demonstrated in how we formulate our projects: we always consider financial sustainability and cultivate an enterprising mindset among the stakeholders involved.

√ Leading by example To manage projects effectively, you need a qualified project manager. We always get on board strong project managers who can relay the MDF way of working and align different stakeholders. A thorough understanding of the technical, financial, social and cultural issues is essential.

√ Effective communication and knowledge sharing We consider good communication and information as key to a successful project. We understand the importance of professional reporting and making progress visible in real time. Regular internal communication on achievements against planning, expenditures against budget, and quality against standards is equally important. Transparency and knowledge sharing are integral to our approach.

√ Clarity and flexibility We know how important it is to have well-developed procedures & systems and clear roles & responsibilities for everyone involved. Professional financial controllers are also involved without taking over from the implementing parties. Concurrently, we value openness and flexibility, respecting that needs and priorities may change over time.

√ Celebrate success Last but not least, we do not forget to appreciate successes, and always allow for a personal touch when managing a project. We have fun in the process and make time to celebrate people’s efforts.

Together we co-create change and yield impact

Our experiences in Project Management

Water4 VirungasRwanda, Ugana, DRC | 2016-presentMDF Training & Consultancy (lead), Stichting DLO (represented by Wageningen University & Research Center (WUR)), Witteveen+Bos and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) are partners in the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) program in the Greater Virunga Landscape, aimed at contributing to: reduced conflict through increased access to water and improved watershed management in the Virunga area. The programme is carried out in close coordination with the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) and other relevant local partners. Services include: overall management; operational coordination of the day-to-day operations of the project; capacity development of local actors; coordination and coaching of the network of local extension.Value: € 14,055,000 | Client: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Kigali, Rwanda

The Special Treat - A WASH Business CaseGhana | 2015-presentThe Special Treat project is implemented by MDF (lead) in a consortium with private and public parties from the Netherlands and Ghana, to identify innovative and financially viable solutions to sustainably improve the livelihoods and well-being of 300,000 people in Ghana.

The project entails the Construction and operation of six public sanitation blocks, a transfer station and one waste water treatment plant. The intention is for the treatment plant, public toilet blocks and the business line producing compost, biogas and clean water for fish production to be financially self-sustainable within five years. Services include: overall project and process management, enabling environment, M&E. Shareholder in the consortium and as such co-responsible for on time delivery of services and products.Value: € 6,654,000 | Client: RVO

Corporate Social Responsibility, SRHR and Innovative Leadership in the Readymade Garment Sector in BangladeshBangladesh | 2014-2018The overall objective of the project is to enhance the knowledge and application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and innovative leadership within the Ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh, promote socioeconomic development, environmental protection, international compliance and equal participation of women in mid and top level positions in the sector. MDF is responsible for overall project management and providing technical inputs in relation to competency based learning, organistional developemtn and policy influencing. Value: € 1,685,447 | Client: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT)

Strengthening the quality of education at the Université d’Abomey CalaviBenin | 2015-2018The project “Strengthening the quality of education at the Université d’Abomey Calavi” assists the University to organise, generalise and maintain an offer of quality university education, responsive to the needs of gender and of the labour market. The project is implemented by a Consortium, led by MDF T&C in collaboration with MDF West Africa and The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou (IITA/LARCSS). Partners are The Hunger Project (THP) Benin and The Association of Scientific Women of Benin (AFEFRS).Value: € 1,385,485 | Client: University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Strengthening Environmental Health and Sanitation Education at UEW to sustain WASH in the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education ServiceGhana | 2014-2018This project aims to strengthen the capacity of Ghana’s Education sector to improve its programme in Environmental Health and Sanitation Education and to incorporate behavioural Change and Communication knowledge related to WASH. Services include: overall project management; financial management; organisational development, HR management training and active learning methodologies; gender mainstreaming, M&E.Value: € 997,203 | Client: University of Education Winneba, College of Agriculture Education, Mampong-Ashanti

Competent technical graduates in integrated water resource management Kenya | 2012-2016This project aims at delivering graduates with relevant skills, competencies and knowledge to effectively contribute to service delivery in Integrated Water resource Management. Services include: overall coordination, procurement and management; organisation development; staff development in training techniques (ToT), competence based education, teaching and learning methods, and gender from international perspective; staff development in gender mainstreaming and IWRM from local perspective; policy development for students and instructors industrial attachment; partnership development.Value: € 900,000| Client: Kenya Water Institute (KEWI)