Description

 Financial Management & Budgeting for Donor-Funded Projects (Excel & MS Project) 

Course Overview

This course aims to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in financial management and budgeting for donor-funded projects. It will cover advanced Excel functions and features, as well as the application of MS Projects for effective project management.

Module 1: Introduction to Financial Management for Donor Funded Projects

  • Overview of financial management principles
  • Importance of financial management in donor-funded projects
  • Key stakeholders and their roles

Module 2: Understanding Donor Requirements and Compliance

  • Overview of donor guidelines and requirements
  • Legal and ethical considerations
  • Compliance and reporting standards

Module 3: Basics of Budgeting for Donor Funded Projects

  • Components of a project budget
  • Creating a budget framework
  • Aligning budgets with donor requirements

Module 4: Advanced Excel for Financial Management and Budgeting.

  • Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts
    • Creating and managing Pivot Tables
    • Grouping and ungrouping data
    • Using calculated fields and items
    • Creating Pivot Charts and slicers for data visualization
  • Advanced Formulas and Functions
    • LOOKUP Functions: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH
    • Logical Functions: IF, AND, OR, NOT, IFERROR, IFNA
    • Text Functions: TEXT, CONCATENATE, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, TRIM, LEN, FIND, REPLACE, SUBSTITUTE
    • Date and Time Functions: TODAY, NOW, DATE, DATEDIF, EOMONTH, NETWORKDAYS, WORKDAY
    • Financial Functions: PMT, PPMT, IPMT, FV, PV, NPV, IRR, XIRR, XNPV
    • Statistical Functions: SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS, MEDIAN, MODE, STDEV, VAR
    • Multi Currency reporting
  • Data Analysis Tools
    • Data Tables (One-Variable and Two-Variable)
    • Scenario Manager
    • Goal Seek
    • Solver
  • Data Visualization Techniques
    • Creating and customizing charts (bar, line, pie, scatter, combo)
    • Conditional formatting to highlight key data
    • Sparklines for quick data visualization
    • Advanced charting techniques (dual-axis charts, waterfall charts, Gantt charts)
  • Data Management
    • Sorting and filtering data
    • Advanced filter techniques
    • Data validation (dropdown lists, input messages, error alerts)
    • Importing and cleaning data (using Text to Columns, Flash Fill, Remove Duplicates)
  • Macros and VBA
    • Recording and editing macros
    • Basic VBA programming for automation
    • Creating user-defined functions
    • Debugging and error handling in VBA
  • Financial Modeling and Forecasting
    • Building dynamic financial models
    • Sensitivity analysis
    • Forecasting techniques (linear regression, moving averages)
    • Scenario analysis and simulation
  • Working with Large Data Sets
    • Handling large data sets efficiently
    • Using Power Query for data extraction and transformation
    • Introduction to Power Pivot for data modeling

Module 5: Financial Analysis and Reporting

  • Analyzing financial statements
  • Creating financial reports for donors
  • Best practices for transparency and accountability

Module 6: Risk Management in Financial Planning

  • Identifying financial risks
  • Strategies for mitigating risks
  • Contingency planning

Module 7: MS Projects for Project Management

  • Introduction to MS Projects
  • Setting up a project timeline and milestones
  • Resource allocation and tracking

Module 8: Integrating Excel and MS Projects

  • Linking Excel data with MS Projects
  • Creating dynamic project dashboards
  • Monitoring project progress and financial health

Module 9: Case Studies and Real-World Applications

  • Analyzing case studies of successful donor-funded projects
  • Group discussions and problem-solving exercises
  • Applying learned techniques to real-world scenarios

Module 10: Final Project and Evaluation

  • Participants develop a comprehensive financial plan for a hypothetical donor-funded project
  • Presentation of projects and peer review
  • Course evaluation and feedback session

Description

Course Objectives

  1. Understand Financial Management Principles:
    • Comprehend the fundamental principles of financial management.
    • Recognize the importance of financial management in donor-funded projects.
    • Identify the key stakeholders and their roles in financial management.
  2. Comply with Donor Requirements and Guidelines:
    • Understand donor guidelines and requirements.
    • Navigate legal and ethical considerations in financial management.
    • Ensure compliance with reporting standards and donor expectations.
  3. Create and Manage Project Budgets:
    • Develop a comprehensive project budget framework.
    • Align budgets with donor requirements and project goals.
    • Monitor and adjust budgets throughout the project lifecycle.
  4. Master Advanced Excel Functions for Financial Management:
    • Utilize advanced Excel functions such as Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, and financial formulas.
    • Perform data analysis using tools like Scenario Manager, Goal Seek, and Solver.
    • Visualize financial data using charts, conditional formatting, and advanced charting techniques.
    • Automate financial processes with macros and VBA programming.
    • Build dynamic financial models and perform forecasting and sensitivity analysis.
  5. Conduct Financial Analysis and Reporting:
    • Analyze financial statements and project financial health.
    • Create detailed financial reports for donor review.
    • Implement best practices for transparency and accountability in financial reporting.
  6. Manage Financial Risks:
    • Identify and assess financial risks in donor-funded projects.
    • Develop strategies for mitigating risks.
    • Implement contingency planning to address unforeseen financial challenges.
  7. Utilize MS Projects for Effective Project Management:
    • Set up and manage project timelines and milestones in MS Projects.
    • Allocate and track resources efficiently.
    • Integrate Excel data with MS Projects for comprehensive project management.
  8. Apply Financial Management and Budgeting Techniques to Real-World Scenarios:
    • Analyze case studies of successful donor-funded projects.
    • Participate in group discussions and problem-solving exercises.
    • Apply learned techniques to hypothetical and real-world scenarios.
  9. Develop and Present a Comprehensive Financial Plan:
    • Create a detailed financial plan for a hypothetical donor-funded project.
    • Present the financial plan to peers and receive constructive feedback.
    • Evaluate and refine the financial plan based on peer review and feedback.


General Notes

GENERAL NOTES
i.   The clients have many options on where they would wish to have the training
ii. The client should communicate their preferred training venue at least seven days before the training date failure to which the training shall take place in Nairobi.
iii. This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case studies.
iii. Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
iv. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a Chania finance consultancy certificate.
v.   The onsite training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, tea at 10am, lunch, tea at 4pm, training venue and a certificate on completion. Accommodation and travel may be arranged for our participants upon request.
vi.   The online training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, and a certificate on completion.

Available at the following Venues

  • Nairobi Kenya
  • Google Meet

Choose the date you would like to take the course