The Role of Concept Paper in Project Management
1.0 Introduction
A concept note is a summary of a proposal containing a brief description of the idea of the project and the objectives to be pursued. In some financing programs, funding agencies require a concept note before the submission of a full proposal, in order to decide whether the proposed project is in line with the priorities of the program and to eliminate proposals that are not likely to be funded. Concept notes are also submitted to donors without a formal call for proposals, who prefer to understand a project through a brief summary rather than a full-fledged proposal document. This factsheet contains a set of guidelines on how to write a concept note, offering also a template to help you drafting an eye catching document to ensure the success of your project.
Many private foundations have always required a concept paper be submitted for review prior to the submission of a full proposal. In recent years government and state agencies have begun to encourage the use of concept papers as a way for applicants to obtain informal feedback on their ideas and projects prior to preparing a proposal. Some of these agencies now require a concept paper be submitted as part of the formal submission process. The purpose of a concept paper, from the funding agency’s point of view, is to help applicants develop more competitive proposals and to save time by eliminating proposals that are not likely to be funded. The applicant’s purpose in developing a concept paper is to capture the interest of the funding agency and demonstrate that the idea they are proposing is worthy of further consideration. Therefore, the first sentences of a concept paper are very important. You want the funding agency representatives or board members to continue reading.
2.0 The Role of Concept Paper
The purpose of a concept paper, from the