Programme Design

Programme design is the structured process of developing, assessing and documenting development interventions to achieve defined objectives effectively, efficiently and sustainably. At PEM, we cover appraisal, desk appraisal, formulation, ensuring alignment with local need, institutional capacities and international development standards.

Effective programme design is critical for international development cooperation, helping programmes align with national priorities, strengthen partner institutions, and deliver measurable social, economic, and environmental impact.

At PEM, we design programmes that are inclusive and context-sensitive, recognizing the cultural patterns of beneficiaries and partners. This ensures that programmes have an inclusive design and implemented through respectful processes that foster ownership.

Our experience spans country, regional and global projects in collaboration mainly with bilateral development institutions as the Danish International Development Agency, the Danish Energy Agency (DEA, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); and development finance institutions as the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU).

Step 1: Identification

We analyse the context (national, local or regional) to understand the challenges, opportunities, and priorities. This includes assessing the client’s strategy, identifying target beneficiaries, and defining the problems that need to be addressed.

Step 2: Political economy and Institutional Landscape

We identify champions of change, stakeholder interests, and partner capacities, with their strengths and weaknesses. This ensure that the design of the programme is feasible and relevant.

Step 3: Coordination and Harmonization

We identify opportunities to align with other development partners and avoid duplication of effort, maximizing impact and efficiency.

Step 4: Formulation

We translate strategic agreements into concrete interventions using SMART objectives, a Theory of Change, and integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, human rights, environmental sustainability, and cross-sectoral linkages. This phase defines the programme’s goals, timeframe, resources, and expected outputs, outcomes, and impacts.

Our work

wwf1

Situation analysis and development of the project document for Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa Seascape Programme

Services Programme Design
Region Africa
Client WWF
End Year 2026
Contract Value Small contract
Formulation of DEPP IV – Framework Programme on Danish Energy Partnership Programmes with India, Kenya, and Brazil

Formulation of DEPP IV – Framework Programme on Danish Energy Partnership Programmes with India, Kenya, and Brazil

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish Energy Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Medium contract
Formulation of renewed Danish support to the OECD Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation CEFIM Programme 2024 2028 scaled

Formulation of renewed Danish support to the OECD Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation (CEFIM) Programme, 2024-2028

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
Kenya scaled

Formulation of Ewaso Ng’iro Basin Water, Forest, and Climate Resilience Project (EWFCP)

Services Programme Design
Region Africa
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
External organizational capacity assessment of Aktion Amazonas and the partners of the South American Forest Conservation Alliance (SAFCA)

External organizational capacity assessment of Aktion Amazonas and the partners of the South American Forest Conservation Alliance (SAFCA)

Services Programme Design
Region South America
Client Aktion Amazonas
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
Formulation UNEP GEF

Formulation UNEP GEF

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client United Nations
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
The Cool Coalition

Appraisal of the Danish support to the Cool Coalition 2024-2026

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
Terminal reviews of two GEF projects Supporting Sierra Leone with the Shift to Electric Mobility and Leapfrogging Tunisias lighting market to high efficiency technologies 1 scaled

Formulation of renewed Danish support to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Small contract
Tropical forest scaled

Appraisal of the Danish Tropical Forests Initiative’s Strategic Framework and its four underlying projects

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2024
Contract Value Large contract
Programming Danish support to the Systematic Observations Financing Facility SOFF scaled

Programming Danish support to the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF)

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2025
Contract Value Small contract
Development of program documents for framework program on Danish Energy Partnership programs with Ukraine

Development of program documents for framework program on Danish Energy Partnership programs with Ukraine

Services Programme Design
Region Eastern Europe
Client Danish Energy Agency
End Year 2026
Contract Value Medium contract
Formulation of the Danish Energy Partnership Programme for China Indonesia Mexico South Africa and Vietnam 2026 2030 DEPP 2026

Formulation of the Danish Energy Partnership Programme for China, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam 2026-2030 (DEPP 2026)

Services Programme Design
Region Global
Client Danish International Development Agency
End Year 2026
Contract Value Medium contract
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