Project Rationale

The project rationale is often synonymous with the ‘project justification,’ ‘problem statement,’ or ‘project background’. It is an argument in favor of implementing the proposed project which gives a detailed explanation of why the project is required. It is is an argument that lays out the reasons for implementing the proposed project. In other words, it describes the issues and problems the community faces and how the organization and the proposed project will address these issues with the donor’s help. This section of the proposal is crucial because it is the place where you will convince the funder that it is absolutely necessary to get the grant for implementing your project.

The project rationale should:

• State the problem as clearly and precisely as possible.
• Reflect the donor goals and guidelines.
• Summarize relevant background information about the region, community, and resources available.
• Include specific information regarding the focus area and beneficiaries, including input from the community.
• Refer to research data, live examples, past projects, quotes, and media articles to build a case for support.
• Explain the organizational strength and capacity in addressing this problem and achieving long-term impact.