Introduction

Humanitarian and donor-funded organizations operate in highly regulated environments that demand financial transparency, accountability, and strict compliance with donor requirements. Accurate financial accounting and reporting are essential for effective grant management, donor confidence, and audit success.

This training equips participants with practical skills to manage, record, analyze, and report financial information in line with donor regulations, international accounting standards, and humanitarian accountability frameworks, while supporting sound financial decision-making.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

1. Apply financial accounting principles within humanitarian and donor-funded contexts
2. Manage grant-based financial transactions accurately
3. Prepare donor-compliant financial reports and statements
4. Track budgets, expenditures, and burn rates by project and donor
5. Implement strong internal controls and segregation of duties
6. Ensure compliance with donor financial regulations
7. Support internal and external audits
8. Improve financial accountability and transparency

Important Dates
Classroom Training Calendar

Online Training Calendar

Course Outline

Day 1: Financial Accounting Fundamentals for Humanitarian Organizations

• Role of finance in humanitarian and donor-funded programs
• Accounting principles and concepts
• Cash vs accrual accounting in donor environments
• Chart of accounts for grants and projects
• Overview of applicable standards: IFRS (NGOs and non-profits), IPSAS (public sector and donor-funded programs)
• Case studies from NGOs and humanitarian agencies

Day 2: Grant-Based Accounting and Transaction Management

• Understanding grant agreements and budgets
• Recording donor-funded transactions
• Cost categories and eligibility
• Direct vs indirect costs
• Payroll and staff cost allocations
• Asset and inventory management
• Practical exercises in grant transaction recording

Day 3: Donor Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Donor reporting requirements: EU, UN agencies, World Bank and other donors
• Budget vs actual reporting
• Variance analysis and explanations
• Financial reporting timelines and formats
• Managing currency and exchange rate issues
• Practical exercise: preparing a donor financial report

Day 4: Internal Controls, Risk Management & Audit Readiness

• Financial policies and procedures
• Segregation of duties in humanitarian finance
• Fraud prevention and detection
• Financial risk assessment
• Supporting donor and statutory audits
• Managing audit queries and recommendations
• Document retention and audit trails

Day 5: Financial Analysis, Tools & Decision Support

• Project financial performance analysis
• Burn rate and cash flow monitoring
• Financial dashboards for management
• Using accounting software and spreadsheets
• Communicating financial information to non-finance staff
• Developing action plans for improved financial management
• Course review and lessons learned

Targeted Participants

This training is designed for:

• Finance and Accounts Officers
• Project and Grant Accountants
• Grants and Compliance Officers
• Program and Project Managers
• Operations and Administrative Officers
• NGO and Humanitarian Finance Teams
• Monitoring & Evaluation Officers involved in financial reporting

Key Benefits for Organizations

• Improved donor compliance and reporting quality
• Enhanced financial accountability and transparency
• Reduced audit risks and findings
• Better project financial control and planning
• Strengthened donor confidence