The Grand Bargain: Implications for Humanitarian Financing Training Course

This intensive 5-day training course provides a comprehensive and practical exploration of The Grand Bargain and its profound implications for Humanitarian Financing. Launched at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, The Grand Bargain is a landmark agreement between the largest donors and humanitarian organizations, committing to make humanitarian aid more efficient and effective. Understanding its core commitments – from greater transparency and harmonization to increased localization and multi-year funding – is essential for anyone involved in mobilizing, managing, or delivering humanitarian assistance in today's evolving landscape. This program will equip participants with an in-depth understanding of the Grand Bargain's objectives, its progress, and the ongoing challenges and opportunities it presents for transforming humanitarian financing.

The course goes beyond a mere overview, focusing on the practical changes required to implement the Grand Bargain's commitments within humanitarian organizations and donor agencies. Through interactive case studies, discussions on risk-sharing, pooled funding mechanisms, and new approaches to accountability, attendees will learn to align their strategies with the Grand Bargain's vision, navigate the complexities of its various workstreams, and contribute to a more impactful, principled, and efficient humanitarian system. Whether you are a humanitarian program manager, a finance professional, a donor representative, a policy maker, or an advocate for humanitarian reform, this program offers an unparalleled opportunity to master the critical aspects of the Grand Bargain and drive its transformative agenda forward.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

  • Humanitarian Aid Program Managers and Coordinators
  • Financial Managers and Accountants in Humanitarian NGOs
  • Donor Representatives (Government, UN, Private Foundations)
  • Policy and Advocacy Professionals in Humanitarian Sector
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists
  • Humanitarian Logistics and Operations Professionals
  • Government Officials in Disaster Management Agencies
  • Researchers and Consultants in Humanitarian Reform

Objectives:

  • To provide a comprehensive understanding of the Grand Bargain's origins, commitments, and objectives.
  • To equip participants with knowledge of how the Grand Bargain impacts humanitarian financing mechanisms and practices.
  • To understand the opportunities and challenges of implementing key Grand Bargain workstreams, particularly on localization, transparency, and multi-year funding.
  • To develop proficiency in aligning organizational strategies with the Grand Bargain's reform agenda.
  • To explore progress made, remaining gaps, and the future outlook for the Grand Bargain's transformative potential.

Course Modules:

Introduction

  • The context leading to the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) 2016 and the birth of the Grand Bargain.
  • Defining the Grand Bargain: its signatories, commitments, and overarching goals.
  • The imperative for humanitarian reform: increasing needs vs. limited resources.
  • How the Grand Bargain aims to make aid more efficient and effective.
  • Course objectives and an outline of the modules.

Core Commitments of the Grand Bargain

  • Greater Transparency: Financial tracking, reporting standards (e.g., IATI).
  • More Support to Local and National Responders: Direct funding, capacity building.
  • Increased Use of Cash-Based Programming: Efficiency, dignity, local markets.
  • More Multi-Year Humanitarian Financing: Predictability, planning.
  • Greater Harmonization and Simplification of Donor Reporting: Reducing administrative burden.

The Grand Bargain and Humanitarian Financing Architecture

  • Impact on Funding Flows: Shift towards pooled funds, direct funding to local actors.
  • Role of CERF and CBPFs: How these mechanisms align with Grand Bargain goals.
  • Donor Strategies: Changes in donor funding modalities and partnerships.
  • Financial Management Implications: Adapting systems for new reporting and tracking.
  • The link between Grand Bargain and broader aid effectiveness agenda.

Localization of Aid and Its Financial Implications

  • Commitment to Localisation: Increasing direct funding to local and national actors.
  • Challenges of Direct Funding: Risk perception, capacity gaps, due diligence.
  • Financial Capacity Building: Strengthening financial management of local partners.
  • Risk Sharing Mechanisms: De-risking local partnerships for international actors.
  • Case studies on successful localization financing models.

Multi-Year Humanitarian Financing

  • Rationale for Multi-Year Funding: Predictability, long-term planning, cost-effectiveness.
  • Challenges of Multi-Year Funding: Donor flexibility, accountability, evolving needs.
  • Financial Planning for Multi-Year Grants: Budgeting, forecasting, reporting.
  • Impact on Program Design: Enabling more strategic and sustainable interventions.
  • Examples of multi-year funding in practice and its benefits.

Transparency and Harmonization

  • IATI as a Standard: Importance of publishing financial data in a common format.
  • Benefits of Transparency: Improved accountability, coordination, decision-making.
  • Harmonization of Reporting: Reducing the burden on implementing partners.
  • Addressing Reporting Gaps: Challenges in collecting and sharing granular data.
  • The role of technology (RegTech/SupTech) in enhancing transparency.

Cash-Based Interventions (CBIs) and Efficiency Gains

  • Grand Bargain Commitment on CBIs: Increasing their use where appropriate.
  • Financial Modalities for CBIs: Mobile money, vouchers, bank transfers.
  • Accountability for CBIs: Tracking, verification, and fraud prevention.
  • Cost-Effectiveness of CBIs: Reducing operational overheads.
  • Linking CBIs to local market analysis and financial service providers.

Progress, Challenges, and the Future of the Grand Bargain

  • Achievements and Setbacks: Reviewing progress on key commitments since 2016.
  • Remaining Gaps and Barriers: Political will, institutional inertia, risk aversion.
  • The Path Forward: Strategies for reinvigorating momentum and overcoming challenges.
  • Grand Bargain 2.0: Potential future directions and priorities.
  • The role of collective action in driving humanitarian reform.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

The Grand Bargain: Implications For Humanitarian Financing Training Course in Kenya
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