Project Governance & Ethics in Humanitarian Response Training Course

Introduction
In humanitarian contexts where resources are scarce, needs are urgent, and decisions impact vulnerable populations, strong project governance and ethical leadership are non-negotiable. The Project Governance & Ethics in Humanitarian Response Training Course equips humanitarian professionals with essential frameworks, tools, and strategies to uphold accountability, transparency, and ethical integrity in every phase of emergency and development programming. This course emphasizes practical governance models and ethical decision-making, ensuring that humanitarian efforts are well-coordinated, principled, and people-centered.

Over the 10-day course, participants will explore key principles such as humanitarian accountability, duty of care, conflict of interest, and anti-corruption safeguards. Through case studies, simulations, and interactive modules, learners will develop actionable skills to lead and govern humanitarian projects responsibly while navigating challenges such as donor pressure, coordination dilemmas, and rapidly evolving field conditions. Ideal for managers and field leaders, this training supports effective governance and promotes ethical conduct across humanitarian supply chains, partnerships, and frontline operations.

Duration

 10 Days
Target Audience

  • Humanitarian project and program managers
  • NGO governance, compliance, and ethics officers
  • Emergency response coordinators and field team leaders
  • Donor agency and funding oversight personnel
  • Logistics, finance, and operations staff in humanitarian contexts

Course Objectives

  • Understand governance structures and decision-making frameworks in humanitarian settings
  • Apply ethical principles and standards to field operations and program implementation
  • Promote transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption in humanitarian projects
  • Strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law and donor requirements
  • Build organizational capacity for ethical leadership and risk-aware governance

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of Project Governance in Humanitarian Settings

  • Key principles and models of project governance
  • Governance structures in NGOs and UN agencies
  • Roles and responsibilities in project oversight
  • Importance of governance during emergencies
  • Governance challenges in complex environments

Module 2: Ethical Foundations in Humanitarian Action

  • Core humanitarian principles (humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence)
  • Ethics of care and dignity in humanitarian decision-making
  • Navigating moral dilemmas in crisis response
  • Universal standards and sector codes of conduct
  • Creating a culture of ethical accountability

Module 3: Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

  • What is AAP and why it matters
  • Participatory decision-making with communities
  • Feedback, complaints, and response mechanisms
  • Ensuring inclusion and nondiscrimination
  • Monitoring and evaluating AAP effectiveness

Module 4: Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making

  • Leading with integrity under pressure
  • Making decisions when data is incomplete
  • Ethical leadership in multi-agency coordination
  • Managing power dynamics and equity issues
  • Real-life ethical leadership case studies

Module 5: Risk Management and Ethical Safeguards

  • Identifying governance and ethical risks
  • Developing ethical risk registers
  • Preventing and responding to fraud and misconduct
  • Ethical implications of risk appetite and tolerance
  • Early warning systems for reputational risk

Module 6: Governance of Humanitarian Partnerships

  • Due diligence and vetting of partners
  • Balancing power in partnership agreements
  • Ensuring ethical alignment in consortiums
  • Shared accountability and governance coordination
  • Managing disputes and shared resources ethically

Module 7: Governance in Remote and Hard-to-Reach Operations

  • Delegation and oversight in insecure settings
  • Maintaining accountability without physical presence
  • Remote monitoring technologies and ethical issues
  • Local partner empowerment and risk transfer
  • Ethics of remote control vs. remote support

Module 8: Financial Integrity and Anti-Corruption

  • Financial governance frameworks and policies
  • Fraud prevention, detection, and reporting
  • Use of audits and financial tracking systems
  • Whistleblower protections and safe reporting
  • Donor compliance and ethical budgeting

Module 9: Supply Chain Ethics and Procurement Governance

  • Ethical procurement principles and practices
  • Avoiding exploitation and abuse in supply chains
  • Environmental and social governance in sourcing
  • Due diligence in vendor selection and contracts
  • Transparency and traceability in logistics

Module 10: Governance and Ethics in MEAL Systems

  • Ethical considerations in data collection and use
  • Consent, privacy, and confidentiality protocols
  • Using evaluation for learning vs policing
  • Ethical analysis of MEAL indicators
  • Governance roles in MEAL oversight

Module 11: Conflict of Interest and Organizational Integrity

  • Defining and identifying conflicts of interest
  • Developing conflict of interest policies
  • Disclosure procedures and mitigation plans
  • Managing favoritism, nepotism, and bias
  • Promoting transparency in internal governance

Module 12: Building Ethical and Accountable Humanitarian Institutions

  • Institutionalizing governance and ethics frameworks
  • Training and capacity building for governance roles
  • Developing ethics committees and advisory boards
  • Linking governance to impact and community trust
  • Creating an ethical legacy in humanitarian programming

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

 

Project Governance & Ethics In Humanitarian Response Training Course
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