USAID Rules and Regulations: Grants and Cooperative Agreements Course

Capacity Africa Training Institute are pleased to announce a training workshop on:

USAID Rules and Regulations: Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Date: 28th to 31st November 2024

Course Fee: $ 700 per person

Venue: Meridian Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Course Description

Whether you are new to USAID funding requirements or have years of program experience, at the end of this highly participatory training you’ll know how to navigate USAID rules and regulations to benefit your work. Our experienced facilitators take you step-by-step through the structure of USAID’s rules and regulations and introduce you to the USAID Award cycle. You will return to your project able to easily find answers to questions about your award – from ‘are laptops allowable?’ to ‘does my international trip need prior approval?’ to ‘how do I dispose of a vehicle?’. In addition to maintaining donor compliance, you’ll also learn how to build strong working relationships with USAID and develop policies for the successful management of your grant or cooperative agreement.

What will you learn

· Understand different types of assistance awards under USAID

· Be familiar with the rules and regulations applicable for USAID assistance awards

· Navigate through the rules and regulations

· Understand the role and responsibility as a recipient of USAID funding

· Feel more confident to manage their award

Who should attend

· Anyone managing or bidding on a USAID grant or cooperative agreement from finance, compliance, program, administrative, or new business development teams.

· Independent auditors or CPAs who perform compliance or financial audits within the development sector.

· USAID staff, especially Agreement Officers and Agreement Officer’s Representatives.

This training can help you with regulations that apply across US Government funding agencies.

How will you learn

Capacity Africa Institute’s practical training puts the learner first. Our expert facilitators draw on their own sector and subject-specific knowledge for a worthwhile and enjoyable learner experience. They will share relevant tools, techniques and insights that are immediately transferable to your own work. You are also actively encouraged to engage in collaborative learning through discussions and hands-on group work.

Agenda

1. Introduction to USAID

· Welcome and icebreaker

· Introduction to USAID

· USAID implementing mechanisms

· Types of awards

· USAID rules and regulations

· USAID rules and regulations map

2. USAID Rules & Regs; Pre-Award Considerations

· Rules and Regulations

· First phase of the Award cycle;

· Navigating the rules exercise

· Organizational preparation for USAID funding

· Second phase of the award cycle

3.Self-Led Learning I: Introduction to USAID Ethical Standards

· Why are ethics needed?

· Pre-award certifications and assurances

· Policies needed

4: Ethics, USAID Authorization and Award Structure

· Recap of certifications and ethics

· How to ensure compliance to the ethical standards within the organization? Exercise

· Continuation award cycle: implementation

· Authorization structure in USAID (AO/AOR); substantial involvement in the award AOR designation letter

· Unauthorized commitments

· Award layout

· Award budget

5.USAID Financial Management

· Financial management

· Standards for financial management systems

· Internal controls, payments, banking and interest

· Financial management discussion

· Cost sharing (difference with cost allocation)

· Program income

· Revision of budget and program plans

· Budget revisions and prior approvals exercise

6: Cost Principles and Indirect Costs

· Recap on cost principles

· Timekeeping and time allocation

· Cost principles exercise

· Indirect costs (all methods)

7: Procurement and Property Standards

· Procurement regulations mapped out

· Procurement policies & eligibility rules:

· Telecommunications and surveillance

· Procurement exercise including restricted and ineligible items, vetting process, prior approvals

· Foreign government-controlled organizations; Nationality of employees and consultants

· Restricted items; Long-term leases; Waivers

Self-Led Learning III: Audits

· Different types of audits

· Audit thresholds

· How to prepare for a smooth audit process

· Common audit findings

8: Sub-award Management

· Difference between procurement of goods, services, and subawards

· Contractual relationship: USAID, Prime, Sub

· Different kinds of subs

· Responsibility of prime

· Registration for federal award systems (UEI, SAM)

· FFATA Reporting

· Sub-agreement, amendments, and flow-down provisions

· Sub-recipient monitoring: Reporting/visits

9: Audit and Content Soup

· Recap on audit

· Branding and marking

· International travel

· Reporting requirements

10: Award Exercise, Close-out and Disposition

· Recap on content soup

· Award review exercise

· Award cycle continued

· Record retention

· Develop a close-out timeline exercise

· Final plenary session and wrap-up

Training Package Value for Money.

Training will be facilitated by professionals with hands on skills and great wealth of experience in USAID Fundrasing and Grants Management . Participants coming from outside NAIROBI are requested to organize their own accommodation and transport. We can however reserve accommodation space for you at the training venue.

Kindly confirm your participation with:

The Training Coordinator

Capacity Africa Institute

Email: workshops@capacityafrica.com

Website: www.capacityafrica.com