Donor Compliance with EU/UN/USAID Standards Training Course

Introduction
Navigating complex donor compliance requirements is crucial for NGOs and implementing partners working with major international funders. The Donor Compliance with EU/UN/USAID Standards Training Course equips participants with the essential knowledge and tools to meet the rigorous financial, programmatic, and reporting standards set by the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). With increasing scrutiny on accountability and results, this training ensures that organizations can manage grants effectively, reduce compliance risks, and sustain long-term donor relationships.

Over 10 practical and highly interactive days, this course covers critical areas including proposal compliance, cost eligibility, procurement, sub-award management, donor reporting, audits, and fraud prevention. Participants will gain insights into navigating donor-specific policies, such as the USAID ADS series, EU PRAG guidelines, and UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT). The course is ideal for project managers, grants specialists, finance teams, and compliance officers seeking to improve operational readiness and performance in donor-funded projects.

Duration

10 Days
Target Audience

  • Grants and compliance officers in NGOs and INGOs
  • Finance and procurement managers
  • Program and project implementation staff
  • Donor liaison and partnership development professionals
  • Internal audit, legal, and contract management staff

Course Objectives

  • Understand and compare key compliance requirements of EU, UN, and USAID
  • Apply donor rules in budgeting, procurement, and reporting
  • Manage sub-grants, audits, and contract obligations effectively
  • Minimize compliance risks and enhance operational accountability
  • Build organizational capacity to sustain donor partnerships

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Donor Compliance Frameworks

  • Overview of EU, UN, and USAID funding mechanisms
  • Key differences in compliance expectations
  • Risk-based approach to donor compliance
  • Life cycle of a compliant project
  • Understanding donor priorities and rules

Module 2: Proposal Development and Pre-Award Compliance

  • Aligning project design with donor requirements
  • Budget templates and cost principles
  • Proposal checklists for compliance
  • Pre-award assessments and due diligence
  • Documentation for eligibility and approval

Module 3: Budgeting and Cost Eligibility Rules

  • Allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs
  • USAID 2 CFR 200 and EU cost eligibility rules
  • UN budgeting formats and ceilings
  • Cost sharing and in-kind contributions
  • Budget revisions and reallocation procedures

Module 4: Contracting, Agreements, and Sub-Awards

  • Types of donor agreements and contract clauses
  • Sub-award vs. procurement distinctions
  • Flow-down requirements for partners
  • Templates for sub-grant agreements
  • Managing partner compliance and reporting

Module 5: Procurement Compliance and Documentation

  • USAID procurement standards and thresholds
  • EU PRAG procurement principles and documentation
  • UN procurement frameworks and ethics
  • Conflict of interest and vendor due diligence
  • Procurement audits and file completeness

Module 6: Financial Management and Internal Controls

  • Financial reporting formats and timelines
  • Cash management and donor fund tracking
  • Exchange rate management and donor rules
  • Internal controls for donor-funded programs
  • Documentation standards for expenditures

Module 7: Donor-Specific Reporting Requirements

  • Narrative and financial reporting for USAID
  • EU interim and final reporting protocols
  • UN progress, audit, and final reports
  • Common reporting errors and corrections
  • Tools for tracking compliance deadlines

Module 8: Monitoring and Evaluation for Donor Compliance

  • Indicators and logframes that meet donor standards
  • Monitoring tools aligned with donor expectations
  • Data verification and quality assurance
  • Output vs. outcome compliance tracking
  • Linking M&E to donor learning agendas

Module 9: Audit Preparedness and Compliance Reviews

  • USAID audit types and procedures
  • EU audits and expenditure verification rules
  • UN spot checks, audits, and capacity assessments
  • Common audit findings and resolutions
  • Preparing audit-ready documentation

Module 10: Fraud Prevention and Ethics in Donor Projects

  • Fraud risks in donor-funded programs
  • Developing anti-fraud policies and reporting channels
  • USAID and UN anti-fraud requirements
  • Conducting internal investigations
  • Ethics training for staff and partners

Module 11: Compliance Risk Assessment and Management

  • Identifying compliance risks in the project cycle
  • Compliance risk registers and mitigation plans
  • Integrating compliance into organizational risk systems
  • Escalation protocols and corrective actions
  • Donor communication and risk disclosures

Module 12: Building a Culture of Donor Compliance

  • Organizational structures that support compliance
  • Staff training and performance incentives
  • Developing a compliance manual and SOPs
  • Embedding donor compliance in everyday operations
  • Strengthening donor confidence through transparency

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

 

 

Donor Compliance With Eu/un/usaid Standards Training Course in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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