EAPP Writing a Concept Paper

Concept Paper

  • provides an overview of a project, and helps funding agencies eliminate proposals that are likely to be disapproved.

Advantage

  • It helps save time and effort for both the proponents and the funding agencies.

Uses

❖ It serves as a foundation of the full proposal.

❖ It helps determine whether a certain project is feasible or not.

❖ It is used to pique the interest of the potential funding agencies.

❖ It is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to preparing the full proposal.

  1. Since a concept paper is a preliminary document for a proposal, it shows a preview of the improvements that the proponent would like to have implemented.
  2. Concept papers can be helpful in addressing social issues especially since they aim to show solutions to tangible issues which plague society.
  3. It usually ranges from 500 to 2000 words and is usually divided into several parts.
  4. The parts of the concept paper may also vary depending on the nature of the project/activity.
  5. The project proponent needs to follow the format and design required by the funding agency.

Parts of Concept Paper for Projects

  1. Cover Page

➢ State the name of the proponents and their affiliations

➢ State the addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of the proponents.

➢ State the head of the agency and his/her contact information.

➢ State the date of submission.

  1. Introduction

➢ State the information about the funding agency to show that you understand its mission.

 ➢ State the mission of the agency that the proponents represent and align it to the funding agency’s mission. Also, state the year the proponent’s agency was established, its major accomplishments, and other details that demonstrate its capability to undertake the proposed project.

➢ Present and describe other partner agencies and why they are qualified as such.

 ➢ Provide reasons why the funding agency should support the project.

  1. Rationale or Background

➢ State the gap in knowledge to be addressed by the project.

➢ State the problems to be solved.

➢ State the project’s significance.

  1. Project Description

➢ State the goals and objectives of the project.

➢ Present the methodology (Sometimes termed as Action Plan, Project Activities, or Approach).

➢ Present the timeline expressed in months and year.

➢ State the benefits or anticipated outcomes.

➢ State how success of outcomes will be evaluated.

  1. Project Needs and Cost

 ➢ Outline the main budget; include the item description and amount.

➢ Explain or justify how the budget will be used.

➢ List the personnel or equipment needed for the project.

Concept Paper for Academic Research

  1. Title Page    ➢ State your research title.    ➢ State your name and school.    ➢ State the date of submission.

  2. Background of the Study    ➢ Provide the current state of the field you are researching    on.    ➢ State the gap in knowledge and problems to be addressed    by the research. Provide statistics and previous studies to    prove your claims.

  3. Preliminary Literature Review

➢ Provide a theoretical framework. The theoretical framework includes the theory that will guide you in the conduct of your research.

➢Provide related literature that supports your topic.

➢ Provide related studies that will help you in conducting the research or analyzing and discussing the data.

➢ Provide a brief synthesis of the reviewed literature and studies.

  1. Statement of the Problem/Objectives    ➢ State your general problem in one sentence.    ➢ State your specific research questions or objectives.

  2. Abridged Methodology ➢ Specify the:

  • Context and participants of the study
  • Instruments to be used
  • Data collection procedure
  • Data analysis scheme to be used
  1. Timeline    ➢ Provide a timeline (e.g., Gantt chart) set in months and    year.
  2. References    ➢ Provide a list of all books, journals, and other resources    cited in your paper.

Guidelines in Writing a Concept Paper

  1. Cost and methodology should be reasonable.
  2. The budget, methodology, and timeline should be clearly aligned.
  3. Use statistics and figures when discussing the rationale for the project.
  4. Use no more than five pages (single-spaced) excluding the cover page. Do not overwhelm the readers with details.
  5. Never request funding for planning the proposal.
  6. Adjust your language to the intended readers.
  7. Include the overview of the budget if it is required. If not, then skip the budget section.
  8. Be sure that basic format details, such as page numbers, are incorporated.
  9. Cite your references.