What are the objectives in grant proposals?
An objective is a smart and brief sentence that gives the reader an almost complete idea of the reason behind planning the project, the beneficiaries, the targeted groups and their numbers, as well as the period and place of implementing the project. Objectives are the heart of the project and may lead to losing the fund in case they were not properly written.
Objective writing conditions
Whether the objective was general or specific, the following conditions should apply:
1- SMART objective:
| S | Specific |
| M | Measurable Manageable |
| A | Applicable Achievable |
| R | Reliable Realistic Relevant |
| T | Time |
Smart objective specifications
As shown in the above table, the specific objective of the project must meet these five conditions, i.e. a specific and measurable objective that can be applicable on the ground to meet the needs of the targeted group in a specific time.
2- Start with words or verbs that show increase or decrease
For example: improve - increase- raise – decrease- reduce – enhance
3- Answer the question (Why?)
For example: why do we want to implement this project? The answer will be: to improve the access of 500 poor families to sufficient and varied food in Al-Maharh Governorate during 2018
4- Use the verb in the present, not the past or future
The General objective
The objective is designed to answer two questions: why was this project found? Who is the main beneficiary of this project? Typically, only one general objective is designed to be the positive answer of the main problem of the project. For example:
The main problem: lack of the enrollment of 4500 children in primary schools in Ar-Rujum district, Al-Mahwit governorate in the school year 2018/2019
The general objective: increase the enrollment of 4500 children in primary schools in Ar-Rujum district, Al-Mahwit governorate in the school year 2018/2019
The specific objectives:
These objectives must be (SMART) objectives with the five aforementioned conditions. Specific objectives should not exceed three objectives for the project.
It must be taken into account that the organization will be obliged to fully achieve these objectives either generally or specifically. Therefore, the focus should be placed on writing the specific objectives, namely their achievability and being manageable in time with the budget proposed to the donor.
The following are some examples of suggested objectives and whether they are true or not:
| Objective | Assessment |
| Increase the access of 10 thousand children (boys &girls) to emergency food services in Al-Tuhaita district during the school year 2016 | ✓ |
| Continuity of providing health services in Al-Jawf governorate | ✕ |
| Referring 230 GBV survivors to comprehensive care services within a week | ✕ |
| Improve the capacity of 6 providers of maternal and child emergency health care services in Al Jawf Governorate in 2017 | ✓ |
| Providing Cash-for-Work assistance to 350 by the end of 2019 | ✕ |
| Increase the access of 300 IDPs to emergency shelter assistance in Maeen district in Amant Alasemah during 12 months | ✓ |
| Increase the access of 700 HHs in Bani Sa’ad district – Al-Mahwit to livelihood improving activities by the end of 2019 | ✓ |
| Training 40 men and women members of community committees on the mechanism of water project management | ✕ |
| Raising awareness of 1500 students (girls & boys ) on the right ways to deal with strange and explosive objects in Abyan and Thamar by the end of July 2018 | ✓ |
Examples of rightly and wrongly written objectives
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