It is necessary to distinguish between projects and programs because there is sometimes a tendency to use them interchangeably. While a project refers to an investment activity where resources are used to create capital assets, which produce benefits over time and has a beginning and an end with specific objectives, a program is an ongoing development effort or plan which may not necessarily be time bounded. Examples could be a road development program, a health improvement program, a nutritional improvement program, a rural electrification program, etc. A development plan is a general statement of economic policy. National development plans are further disaggregated into a set of sectoral plans.

A development plan or a program is therefore a wider concept than a project. It may include one or several projects at various times whose specific objectives are linked to the achievement of higher level of common objectives. For instance, a health program may include a water project as well as a construction of health centers both aimed at improving the health of a given community, which previously lacked easy access to these essential facilities. Projects, which are not linked with others to form a program, are sometimes referred to as “stand alone” projects. Projects in such context are the concrete manifestations of the development plans in a specific place and time. One can think of projects as subunits and bricks of programs, which constitute the national plan (usually the direction is from plans to projects). We have to note that projects could be either public or private. It is the smallest operational
element prepared and implemented as a separate entity in a national plan or program. From the above discussion it can be seen that the major difference between a project and a program is not so much in objectives stated but lies
more in scope, the details and accuracy. A project is designed with a high degree of precision and details as regards its objectives, features, calculation of returns and implementation plan. A program by contrast is general, lacks details and precision and aims at a broader goal often related to a sectoral policy of a country or departmental policy of an organization.

Perhaps the distinction between projects and programs would be clear if we see the basic characteristics of projects.
Projects in general need to be SMART.

S – Specific: A project needs to be specific in its objective. A project is designed to meet a specific objective as opposed to a program, which is broad. A project has also specific activities. Projects have well defined sequence of investment and
production activities and a specific group of benefits. A project is also designed to benefit a specific group of people.
M – Measurable: Projects are designed in such a way that investment and production activities and benefits expected should be identified and if possible be valued (expressed in monetary terms) in financial, economic and if possible social terms. Though it is sometimes difficult to value especially secondary costs and benefits of a project, attempt should be made to measure them. Measure costs and benefits must lend themselves for valuation and general projects are thought to
be measurable.
A – Area bounded: As projects have specific and identifiable group of beneficiaries, so also have to have boundaries. In designing a project, its area of operation must clearly be identified and delineated. Though some secondary costs and benefits may go beyond the boundary, its major area of operation must be identified. Hence projects are said to be area bounded.
R – Real: Planning of a project and its analysis must be made based on real information. Planner must make sure whether the project fits with real social, economic political, technical, etc situations. This requires detail analysis of different
aspects of a project.
T – Time bounded: A project has a clear starting and ending point. The overall life of the project must be determined. Moreover, investment and production activities have their own time sequence. Every cost and benefit streams must be identified,
quantified and valued and be presented year-by-year.

A development plan or a program is a wider concept than a project.

It may include one or several projects at various times whose specific objectives are linked to the achievement of higher level of common objectives. Projects are the policy and plan instruments, a particular decision scheme meant to convert policies and plans into reality. So we have this generic scheme:

Policy —Þ Development Plans —Þ Programs —Þ Projects —Þ Outcomes / impacts / changes. Projects, which are not linked with others to form a program, are sometimes referred to as “stand alone” projects.

Policies → Development plans → Projects → Outcomes / impacts / changes.