Modern realities have many challenges for society and the economy, as the global economic crisis and Ukraine's internal economic and political problems are not conducive to development. Against the background of these challenges, the support of the whole population, the desire to improve the quality of life, in particular in socially vulnerable groups, is becoming important. Social projects in such conditions are designed to maintain social stability, improve the quality of life, and in turn require professional staff. The article examines the essence and features of social projects as a tool to improve the quality of life, ensuring the social effect of implementation, as well as the role of competence development in the context of ensuring effective management of social projects. The content of social project management in modern conditions as organization, planning, management, coordination of labor, financial and logistical resources during the project cycle, aimed at effectively achieving their goals and a certain social effect. Some principles of successful social projects are defined, which allows to increase the efficiency of their management. A certain algorithm of social project management has been formed, which includes: analysis of social sphere problems, determination of social sphere priorities, formation of social project management structure, development and implementation of social projects, achievement of results and social effect. The role of competencies, in particular managerial ones, in ensuring the effectiveness of social project management is determined. Based on the definition of the concept of «competence», the hierarchy of management staff competencies of the social project is revealed. The key competencies of the social projects management stafff, including leadership, discipline, forecasting social development, empathy, emotional intelligence, etc. are identified. Taking into account the specifics of managerial competencies, an algorithm for their development was formed to ensure the effectiveness of social project management in modern conditions, which involves certain stages from analysis of existing competencies of management staff to new competencies goals and objectives of the social project.