Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

USAID Rules and Regulations Training Course

Course Introduction

USAID Rules and Regulations is a comprehensive professional training course designed to equip grant managers, finance officers, project managers, procurement specialists, compliance officers, auditors, and development practitioners with the knowledge and practical skills required to successfully manage and implement projects funded by the former United States Agency for International Development framework and related U.S. Government assistance mechanisms. The course focuses on donor compliance, financial management, procurement regulations, grant administration, contract management, reporting requirements, audit readiness, risk management, and accountability systems. Organizations implementing U.S.-funded programs must understand and apply complex regulations to ensure compliance, maintain funding eligibility, and achieve program objectives effectively.

The course provides participants with a thorough understanding of assistance awards, cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, procurement standards, financial management requirements, cost principles, audit regulations, and compliance frameworks commonly applied within U.S. Government-funded development and humanitarian programs. Participants will learn how to interpret award agreements, manage donor expectations, establish compliant management systems, monitor project implementation, and prepare accurate financial and programmatic reports. Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will gain hands-on experience in applying regulatory requirements to real-world project scenarios.

The training further explores Uniform Guidance principles, procurement compliance, sub-award management, internal controls, fraud prevention, risk assessment, environmental compliance, branding and marking requirements, monitoring and evaluation obligations, and closeout procedures. Participants will strengthen their capacity to manage compliance risks, maintain proper documentation, conduct compliance reviews, and support organizational accountability. The course emphasizes best practices for implementing donor-funded projects while maintaining transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness.

By integrating theory with practical application, this course enables participants to establish strong compliance systems, improve project performance, reduce regulatory risks, strengthen donor confidence, and enhance organizational capacity. Participants will leave the course with practical tools, templates, and strategies for successfully managing U.S. Government-funded projects and ensuring full compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1.     Understand key U.S. Government donor compliance principles and regulations.

2.     Interpret grant, cooperative agreement, and contract requirements.

3.     Apply financial management and cost allocation standards effectively.

4.     Manage procurement and sub-award compliance requirements.

5.     Establish effective internal control and risk management systems.

6.     Prepare accurate donor financial and programmatic reports.

7.     Ensure compliance with audit and monitoring requirements.

8.     Implement effective documentation and records management systems.

9.     Manage donor-funded projects in accordance with regulatory standards.

10.  Develop organizational compliance action plans and improvement strategies.

Organization Benefits

Organizations sponsoring participants will benefit through:

1.     Improved donor compliance and regulatory adherence.

2.     Reduced financial and operational risks.

3.     Enhanced grant and contract management systems.

4.     Improved financial accountability and transparency.

5.     Strengthened procurement and sub-award management practices.

6.     Better audit preparedness and compliance performance.

7.     Increased donor confidence and funding opportunities.

8.     Improved project implementation effectiveness.

9.     Enhanced organizational governance and oversight.

10.  Sustainable institutional capacity for donor-funded programs.

Target Participants

This course is suitable for:

·       Grant and contract managers.

·       Finance managers and accountants.

·       Procurement and supply chain professionals.

·       Compliance and risk management officers.

·       Program and project managers.

·       Monitoring and evaluation specialists.

·       Internal and external auditors.

·       NGO and civil society organization staff.

·       Humanitarian and development practitioners.

·       Administrative and operations personnel.

·       Executive directors and senior managers.

·       Staff implementing U.S. Government-funded projects.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to U.S. Government Assistance and Compliance Frameworks

·       Overview of donor-funded assistance programs

·       Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts

·       Regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements

·       Roles and responsibilities of recipients

·       Award management fundamentals

·       Compliance culture and accountability

Case Study: Understanding compliance requirements for a donor-funded development project.

Module 2: Award Management and Grant Administration

·       Award negotiation and acceptance

·       Terms and conditions interpretation

·       Award implementation requirements

·       Budget management and modifications

·       Performance monitoring obligations

·       Grant lifecycle management

Case Study: Managing compliance during project startup and implementation.

Module 3: Financial Management and Cost Principles

·       Financial management system requirements

·       Cost allowability and allocability principles

·       Direct and indirect cost management

·       Budget monitoring and control

·       Cash management procedures

·       Financial documentation standards

Case Study: Managing project expenditures in compliance with donor requirements.

Module 4: Procurement and Sub-Award Management

·       Procurement planning and procedures

·       Competition and vendor selection requirements

·       Contract administration and oversight

·       Sub-award management processes

·       Due diligence and risk assessments

·       Procurement documentation requirements

Case Study: Conducting compliant procurement for a large donor-funded project.

Module 5: Internal Controls, Risk Management and Audit Compliance

·       Internal control frameworks

·       Risk assessment methodologies

·       Fraud prevention and detection

·       Compliance monitoring systems

·       Audit preparation and management

·       Corrective action planning

Case Study: Preparing for a donor compliance audit and review.

Module 6: Reporting, Closeout and Sustainability

·       Financial reporting requirements

·       Programmatic reporting standards

·       Performance monitoring and evaluation obligations

·       Record retention requirements

·       Award closeout procedures

·       Lessons learned and sustainability planning

Case Study: Successfully completing project closeout while meeting donor requirements.

Module 7: Procurement Ethics and Compliance Monitoring

·       Ethical procurement practices

·       Conflict of interest management

·       Procurement risk mitigation

·       Vendor performance monitoring

·       Compliance review procedures

·       Procurement audit readiness

Case Study: Addressing procurement compliance challenges in project implementation.

Module 8: Environmental and Social Compliance Requirements

·       Environmental compliance principles

·       Environmental risk assessments

·       Social safeguard considerations

·       Compliance documentation requirements

·       Monitoring mitigation measures

·       Reporting environmental performance

Case Study: Managing environmental compliance in infrastructure development projects.

Module 9: Branding, Communication and Visibility Requirements

·       Branding and marking policies

·       Communication compliance standards

·       Public awareness and visibility guidelines

·       Approval processes and documentation

·       Media and stakeholder communication

·       Monitoring branding compliance

Case Study: Implementing branding requirements across multiple project activities.

Module 10: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Compliance

·       Results-based management principles

·       Monitoring and evaluation requirements

·       Performance indicator tracking

·       Data quality assessments

·       Learning and adaptive management

·       Reporting performance outcomes

Case Study: Strengthening monitoring systems for donor-funded projects.

Module 11: Organizational Capacity and Compliance Systems

·       Building compliance management systems

·       Staff roles and accountability structures

·       Organizational policy development

·       Compliance training and awareness

·       Continuous improvement mechanisms

·       Compliance performance measurement

Case Study: Strengthening organizational compliance capacity for donor-funded programs.

Module 12: Strategic Compliance Planning and Sustainability

·       Long-term compliance planning

·       Institutional strengthening strategies

·       Compliance risk management frameworks

·       Resource mobilization considerations

·       Sustainability and organizational resilience

·       Developing compliance action plans

Case Study: Creating a strategic compliance roadmap for donor-funded project portfolios.

General Information

1.     Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.

2.     Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.

3.     Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.

4.     Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).

5.     Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.

6.     Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.

7.     Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.

8.     Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.

9.     Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.

10.  Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.

11.  Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.

12.  Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.

13.  Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.

14.  Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.