Intermediate Proposal Development

This free online course is designed for civil society organisation staff seeking to strengthen their proposal development skills in response to international donors, including the United States and United Kingdom governments and the European Commission. Building on foundational knowledge of proposal writing, this intermediate-level course explores more advanced aspects of proposal development, including team management, stakeholder co-design processes, proposal frameworks, and strategic budgeting.

Participants will gain practical insight into how competitive proposals are structured and managed, how technical and cost components are aligned, and how donor requirements influence proposal design and compliance. The course also introduces structured approaches to results frameworks, logic models, and cost strategies, enabling learners to contribute more effectively to high-quality proposal development processes. 

The course is the Intermediate Proposal Development, and a more beginner course – Basics Proposal Development – is also available. The course is available in English. The course is available in English and was produced as part of the Aga Khan Foundation’s Civil Society programme. The duration of this course is 4.5 hours.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

LO1 Describe how proposal teams are structured and identify key roles and responsibilities in proposal development

LO2 Explain how proposal development processes are planned, managed, and coordinated through tools such as calendars and compliance matrices

LO3 Describe approaches to stakeholder engagement and co-design in the development of competitive proposals

LO4 Identify key proposal frameworks, including theory of change, logic models, results frameworks, and logical frameworks

LO5 Explain how proposal design is informed by donor requirements, win themes, and evidence from stakeholder input

LO6 Describe how budgets are developed and aligned with proposal requirements, including cost categories and donor rules

LO7 Explain key principles of cost strategy, including value for money, cost share, and allowable cost considerations

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of how effective proposal teams are organised and coordinated
• Interpret how structured planning tools support compliance and efficiency in proposal development
• Recognise the role of stakeholder engagement and co-design in strengthening proposal quality
• Apply knowledge of core proposal frameworks used in international development funding applications
• Understand how technical design elements are aligned with donor requirements and competitive positioning
• Identify how budgeting and cost strategies are integrated into proposal development processes
• Strengthen awareness of compliance, value for money, and cost share principles in donor-funded proposals

The course can be completed as an online-only course or in a blended format where learners first watch the videos and then engage in a synchronous in-person session. A Facilitator Guide is available for download for the synchronous in-person session.

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