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Project Management for International Development Professional Project Management for a More Demanding Development Landscape

In today's increasingly competitive international development landscape, organizations face growing pressure to deliver results efficiently, transparently, and sustainably. Success no longer depends solely on technical expertise—it demands strong project management capabilities.

The Project Management for International Development (PMID) professional certificate is designed to prepare professionals to meet this new standard. It equips participants with the modern mindset, methods, and tools needed to lead complex projects in development contexts, combining predictive and agile approaches aligned with international best practices such as Scrum and PMI® standards.

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Delivered entirely online over 14 weeks through live sessions, this course offers a practical, simulation-based experience grounded in real project environments. Participants engage in hands-on exercises, tools, and discussions that reflect the challenges and opportunities of managing real-world projects in international development. 

Each module builds practical skills through applied tools, case studies, and simulations.

Participants who successfully meet the course requirements will be awarded the Project Management for International Development (PMID) Professional Certificate, recognizing their ability to apply modern project management practices in complex development settings. Course requirements include active participation, completion of all assignments, and satisfactory performance in the final assessment.

Why take this certificate program?

  • Increasing competition: Funding agencies and partners expect greater accountability, speed, and impact.

  • Higher professional standards: Organizations are actively seeking staff with advanced project management skills.

  • Career advantage: Mastery of project management tools and frameworks positions you as a leader in development projects.

  • Applied focus: You will not only learn concepts—you will simulate an entire project lifecycle and apply what you learn immediately, demonstrating your competency with PMI standards.

Students in the Project Management for International Development certificate program will learn from seasoned project management practitioners. Courses are led by Ernesto Mondelo, and supported by additional instructors Lisbeth Albarrán, Ricardo Sánchez Orduña, and Mariko Russell. 

If your goal is to learn how to improve the results of your international development projects, register today! Spots are limited and will be filled on a first come basis. Teams of 3 or more should reach out to partnerships@american.edu for special rates.

Register now!

Participation costs $1,900. Teams of 3 or more should reach out to partnerships@american.edu for special rates.

Upcoming in 2026

If your goal is to learn how to improve the efficiency and outcomes of your international development projects, consider registering for the PMID certificate program!

Register Here!

Course Structure

This module is delivered online over the course of one week. This module is composed of the following goals:

  • Understand PMI’s 12 principles and their 4 categories: Alignment, Collaboration, Impact, Agility
  • Explore systems thinking, project context, complexity, and governance
  • Apply foundational project concepts: triple constraint, life cycle, and tailoring

This module is delivered online over the course of two weeks. This module is composed of the following goals and tasks:

  • Build a Team Agreement and develop collaboration norms
  • Use Empathy Maps to understand beneficiaries
  • Create a Project Vision that aligns stakeholders
  • Develop a Project Charter with scope, objectives, and governance roles

This module is delivered online over the course of eight weeks. Each week focuses on a key project planning domain with an associated tool:

  1. Scope: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  2. Schedule: Network Diagram & Critical Path
  3. Cost: Cost S-Curve
  4. Procurement: Procurement Matrix
  5. Risk: Risk Matrix
  6. Stakeholders: Stakeholder & RACI Matrices
  7. Communication: Communication Matrix
  8. Integration & Governance: Planning Matrix & Change Control Mechanism

This module is delivered online over the course of two weeks. This module is composed of the following tasks and goals:

  • Prioritize deliverables using Critical Path and Value-Effort analysis
  • Build a Quarterly Implementation Plan (QIP) with 6 sprints
  • Assign roles and tasks for team execution

This module is delivered online over the course of one week. This module is composed of the following tasks and goals:

  • Implement the QIP using a Kanban Board
  • Facilitate sprint execution with visual workflows
  • Conduct After Action Reviews (AAR) and capture lessons learned

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