Start a Project

Turn an idea into an actionable ASG project with a clear purpose, ownership, partners, resources, and learning process.

Your Pathway

1. Frame → 2. Explore → 3. Define → 4. Organize → 5. Resource → 6. Start → 7. Adapt

1. Frame

Clarify what you are trying to accomplish and why it matters.

Identify the problem or opportunity, intended beneficiaries, geography, and preliminary outcomes.

You're done when: You can explain the project clearly in one page.

2. Explore

Understand the system around the project before deciding what the project should do.

Look at stakeholders, existing initiatives, institutional mandates, evidence, constraints, opportunities, and previous attempts.

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You're done when: You understand enough of the landscape to challenge your initial assumptions.

3. Define

Determine what the first version of the project will actually attempt.

Define scope, objectives, outputs, boundaries, assumptions, and indicators of progress.

Avoid designing everything at once. Separate what is known from what needs to be discovered through implementation.

You're done when: The project's first operating model is clear enough to test.

4. Organize

Determine who needs to participate.

Identify the project lead, ASG team, affiliates, partners, decision makers, technical contributors, and other stakeholders.

You're done when: Roles and responsibilities for getting started are clear.

5. Resource

Determine what the project requires.

Prepare an initial budget, staffing plan, funding approach, tools, timeline, and administrative requirements.

You're done when: The first phase can realistically be implemented.

6. Start

Begin the smallest meaningful version of the project.

Activate the team, partners, trackers, communication channels, and first activities.

You're done when: The project has moved from planning to action.

7. Adapt

Learn from implementation.

Track signals, surprises, bottlenecks, emerging opportunities, and results. Change the project as understanding improves.

You're done when: Learning is regularly influencing what the project does next.

Country Context

[Global] [Pakistan] [Nepal] [Senegal] [Philippines]

Start with Step 1: Frame →