Making a difference

Financial Management of Development Projects

Sound financial management is critical to the success of all types of development projects funded by multilateral or bilateral development agencies. Against a background of scarce financial resources, these projects require expertise in a broad range of areas including budgeting, reporting, financial management systems, the production of audited accounts and appropriate internal controls. It is essential that the financial management systems of a project provide timely reliable information for effective decision making.

This course will examine the life-cycle of a project and the processes that financial managers must apply to ensure that a project's objectives are achieved.

Who should attend
Executives and managers at all levels in the public, private and NGO sectors. It will also benefit those who have responsibility for, or are working on, donor-funded projects as well as those involved with projects within organisations more generally.

How you will benefit
By the end of the course you will be able to:

• implement appropriate systems for managing projects and finances
• produce financial plans and cash flow project reports
• establish the appropriate control environment
• ensure procurement is in accordance with international best practices

Course profile
Introduction

• Aid programmes and the different donor agencies
• Donor trends

Project management

• The project cycle
• Project management techniques
• Planning and scheduling
• Project Risk Analysis

Financial management

• Financial management systems
• Financial accounting
• Auditing of financial statements
• Planning
• Disbursements

Reporting

• Sources and uses of funds
• Analysis of budgeted costs
• Financial indicators

Internal controls

• Risk assessment
• Control activities

Procurement

• Best practice procurement
• International competitive bidding

Trade finance

• Commercial contracts and Inco terms
• Letters of credit, bonds and guarantees

I found the FMDP training very useful. The course was well organized and professionally planned. The staff and the management team of the Crown Agents and are highly supportive. I cascaded the training to my colleagues as soon as I returned from course which was found significantly relevant to our day to day office operation. Before taking the course I was asking myself “would there be anything really new for me in this training?” Yes, there were many new things to learn. I would say every qualified manager today at some point needs to add on his managerial skills by attending this training.

Mr Daud Rasool
Resources Manager
British Council, Afghanistan

As a Coordinator responsible for project development and management, the recent training in Financial Management for Development Projects at the Crown Agents has undoubtedly shaped my perspective in task performance. The thought-provoking lectures, actionable templates, and fascinating checklists given by Crown Agents’ lecturers during the course are now used by my outfit not only to manage projects but also to develop projects as well as to identify project-related problems.

Mr Timothy Wilson Gaye
Investment coordinator
National Social Security & Welfare Corporation, Liberia