How do you change power projection?

[HidekiTojo]

Playing as Belgium don't I need to be able to up my projection level in order to be able to build the colonial buildings and actually claim colonies right? Atm in the beginning all I can do is the basic stuff I cannot actually get the protectorate decision for example.

How do I get that decision? If its by upping my projection level then how do I do that?

[loki100]

those settings are fixed till certain events fire.

I think you'll get a load later on, plus some scripted gains in the modern day Congo, but yes till then you'll be limited to establishing a very basic presence ('influenced') in colonial regions.