Guidance for bilateral projects
August 2018

Outline for a Project Completion Report 

Cover page	•	Name of the project / programme
•	Type of report (Completion report, draft/final)
•	Date and location 
•	Duration of the project / programme
•	Who has prepared the report 
•	Distribution of the report 	
Table of contents		
List of abbreviations		
Summary	•	Project results (outputs, outcome and impact), value, stakeholders
•	Key recommendations	
1. Project background	•	Rationale for the programme
•	Implementation environments: implementing agency and its key policies directing the project. Other key stakeholders and their role
•	Changes in the project environment during the project	
2. Progress towards achieving results 	•	Analyse to which extent the results (especially outcome but also outputs), have been achieved. Use the indicators in the Results Framework as a reference. Problems encountered and corrective measures conducted. 
•	An analysis of the impact i.e. the changes and effects, positive or negative, planned and unforeseen of the programme in relation to target groups and others who are affected. Have the needs of the beneficiaries changed over project implementation period? If yes, how? What were the implications for the project?
•	Analysis of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the programme
•	Analysis on how cross-cutting objectives were achieved
•	 Description of handing over  process
•	Recommendations/ issues for consideration for sustainability
	
3. Assumptions and risks and opportunities	•	Assumptions: Did the assumptions materialize? Did any new assumptions arise during implementation? Effects of assumptions to the implementation and achievements 
•	Compare the original risk analysis to the materialised risks. How were the risks managed? Describe the corrective actions (both past realised and recommended future actions)
•	New developments and opportunities	
4. Resource allocation 	•	Use of resources: Narrative description of the realized total expenditure, broken down by result/result area, including funding by all stakeholders and in kind contributions when applicable. Details should be presented in the Annexes.
•	Short description on major budget reallocations (if applicable) and their reasons (usually corrective measures)
•	Analysis of the achievements vis-a-vis the use of budgeted resources from all funding sources during the project duration to justify conclusions on efficiency and cost-effectiveness  (presented in chapter 2)
•	Use of TA support 
•	Findings of the financial and audit results	
5. Management and coordination arrangements 	•	Local ownership and the role of relevant local agencies
•	Roles of Steering Committee and Supervisory Board, and their membership
•	Management structure; any changes to management. The role of TA support.
•	Coordination with other government units/programmes 
•	Coordination with other development cooperation projects
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6. Lessons learnt	•	Lessons learned for specific stakeholders, for partner country and for similar project in other countries 
•	Evaluations, their recommendations and lessons learnt
	
7. Recommendations 	•	Need for further cooperation	
Annexes	•	Result chain and results framework: Comparison of indicators; end-of project situation compared to baseline situation 
•	Inventory list 
•	Handing over certificates of the assets handed over 
•	List of publications, studies, documents and reports prepared
•	References, tables, maps, indicators, key policy decisions, sector analyses
•	Financial report comparing planned and realized expenditure, annual breakdown included if it provides added value and relates to achievement of results.