NewContract, Procurement and Financial Management for Development Projects

Dates:

• 06 - 17 September 2027

This two-week workshop combines:

• Contract Management of Development Projects
• Financial Management of Development Projects

Workshop Overview

This comprehensive two-week programme equips participants to manage the contractual, procurement and financial dimensions of development projects as one integrated system. It follows the full project cycle from appraisal and planning through procurement, contracting, implementation, monitoring, assurance and close-out and shows how sound decisions in each area support timely delivery, value for money, accountability and sustainable results.

Learning is organised as a continuous ten-day progression rather than as separate workshops. Participants will apply concepts through case studies, practical exercises, group discussions, templates and diagnostic tools. Throughout the programme, they will build an integrated action plan for strengthening project governance, procurement, contract administration, financial controls, reporting and risk management in their own organisations.

Workshop Objectives

On completion, you will be able to:

• Explain how project governance, procurement, contracts and financial management interact throughout the development project cycle
• Appraise proposed investments and translate project objectives into realistic implementation, procurement, financing and cash-flow plans
• Apply donor requirements, national systems and recognised international good practice when designing project arrangements
• Select appropriate procurement methods and contract strategies, prepare clear specifications and evaluation criteria, and support transparent contract award
• Establish fit-for-purpose accounting policies, budgets, controls, reporting lines, records and management information systems
• Administer contracts and monitor expenditure, outputs, milestones, supplier performance and project results
• Identify, assess and manage contractual, financial, fiduciary, fraud and implementation risks
• Manage variations, claims, disputes, budget revisions, underperformance and corrective action in a controlled manner
• Prepare for internal and external audit and complete financial, contractual and asset close-out requirements
• Produce a practical, integrated action plan to improve project delivery, accountability and organisational capability

Key topics

• Development project context and governance: project life cycle, results frameworks, institutional arrangements, stakeholder responsibilities, decision-making structures, documentation and accountability.
• Project appraisal and implementation planning: strategic, economic and financial appraisal; feasibility considerations; implementation plans; resource requirements; assumptions; dependencies; and initial risk assessment.
• Integrated budgeting, financing and procurement planning: cost estimates, financing plans, procurement schedules, cash-flow forecasts, disbursement arrangements, delivery milestones and plan alignment.
• Procurement strategy and tender preparation: market analysis, procurement methods, specifications, statements of work, tender documentation, evaluation criteria, ethics and transparency.
• Evaluation, due diligence and contract award: bid opening and evaluation, supplier due diligence, clarification, negotiation, approvals, award decisions and maintenance of a defensible audit trail.
• Contract mobilisation and financial management systems: contract types, risk allocation, mobilisation, roles, accounting policies, chart of accounts, staffing, segregation of duties and records management.
• Implementation, payment and performance control: contractor oversight, deliverable acceptance, invoice verification, expenditure control, payment certification, performance indicators and management reporting.
• Forecasting, reporting and fiduciary risk: budget monitoring, variance analysis, cash forecasting, donor reporting, financial statements, fraud and corruption risks, internal controls and integrated management information systems.
• Change, claims, disputes and assurance: contract variations, budget revisions, claims assessment, dispute avoidance and resolution, underperformance, corrective action, internal audit and external audit readiness.
• Close-out, lessons and organisational action planning: contractual and financial closure, final accounts, asset handover, records retention, evaluation, lessons learned and presentation of integrated action plans.

Delivery Approach

The programme combines facilitator-led sessions with practical exercises, worked examples, case analysis, peer learning and guided application. Activities progressively connect procurement, contract and financial decisions so that participants can test controls, resolve implementation issues and apply the tools to realistic project scenarios.

Programme Outputs

• An integrated project planning, procurement and financial management checklist
• A risk and control matrix covering contractual, financial and fiduciary risks
• A performance and financial monitoring framework with reporting indicators
• An organisation-specific action plan with priorities, responsibilities and next steps