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Official programme prospectus
NGO Financial Management, Compliance & Governance
Budgeting, controls and reporting practice for organisations handling donor funds.
- Duration
- 6 months / about 24 weeks
- Fee
- SLE 5,000
- Delivery
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Level
- Advanced
SLIHSD · NGO Financial Management, Compliance & Governance · Programme prospectus
1. About SLIHSD
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development is a developing professional education, training and capacity-development institute focused on practical, accessible learning for humanitarian, community and sustainable-development practice.
2. Why this programme?
Budgeting, controls and reporting practice for organisations handling donor funds. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
3. Programme at a glance
- Category
- Leadership, Governance & Research
- Level
- Advanced
- Duration
- 6 months (about 24 weeks)
- Study modes
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Indicative programme fee
- SLE 5,000
- Registration fee
- SLE 100
- Location
- Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
- Application deadline
- 31 March 2026
Around 24 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
4. Target audience
- • NGO, public-service and community-organisation staff with planning, leadership, finance, research or reporting duties.
- • Project officers and emerging managers seeking stronger professional systems and decision-making skills.
- • Graduates and practitioners building an applied work portfolio.
5. Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
6. Learning outcomes
- • Build and monitor a project budget
- • Apply internal controls that satisfy donors
- • Prepare for an external audit
7. Course structure and modules
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–5 | Budgeting and cash-flow planning |
| 2 | Weeks 6–10 | Internal controls and fraud prevention |
| 3 | Weeks 11–15 | Donor compliance and grant management |
| 4 | Weeks 16–20 | Financial reporting and audit preparation |
| 5 | Weeks 21–24 | Board governance and accountability |
8. Detailed module breakdown
1. Budgeting and cash-flow planning (Weeks 1–5)
Develop practical capability in budgeting and cash-flow planning, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in budgeting and cash-flow planning
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for budgeting and cash-flow planning.
2. Internal controls and fraud prevention (Weeks 6–10)
Study internal controls and fraud prevention in the context of leadership, Governance & Research, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
- • Essential concepts and terminology within internal controls and fraud prevention
- • Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- • Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying internal controls and fraud prevention to a realistic setting.
3. Donor compliance and grant management (Weeks 11–15)
Develop practical capability in donor compliance and grant management, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in donor compliance and grant management
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for donor compliance and grant management.
4. Financial reporting and audit preparation (Weeks 16–20)
Study financial reporting and audit preparation in the context of leadership, Governance & Research, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
- • Essential concepts and terminology within financial reporting and audit preparation
- • Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- • Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying financial reporting and audit preparation to a realistic setting.
5. Board governance and accountability (Weeks 21–24)
Develop practical capability in board governance and accountability, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in board governance and accountability
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for board governance and accountability.
9. Practical project / portfolio
Prepare a donor-ready budget, forecast and financial report pack.
10. Teaching & learning approach
- • Tutor-led explanation and demonstration focused on the published module topics.
- • Guided practice using cases, scenarios, templates or production tasks relevant to the programme.
- • Individual and group feedback that helps learners improve work before final submission.
- • Flexible online, face-to-face or blended participation, with evening and weekend scheduling where available.
11. Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • Practical component: Prepare a donor-ready budget, forecast and financial report pack.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
12. Career & professional pathways
- • Apply the programme’s tools in field, programme, coordination or community-facing responsibilities related to leadership, Governance & Research.
- • Use the completed project or portfolio as evidence of applied professional development.
- • Progress to related SLIHSD intermediate or advanced professional learning where available.
13. Learner support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
14. Fees & enrolment
Indicative programme fee for this course is SLE 5,000, plus a one-off registration fee of SLE 100. Final fees and any instalment arrangement are confirmed with you in writing before you commit.
| Course length | Indicative fee |
|---|---|
| 1 month short courses | SLE 150 – 750 |
| 1–3 months | SLE 2,500 |
| 3–6 months | SLE 3,500 |
| 6–18 months | SLE 5,000 |
15. Quality, recognition & regulatory notice
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Completion records an SLIHSD professional short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
16. Contact & application
Learn. Build skills. Make a difference.
Apply online at slihsd.org/admissions, message us on WhatsApp +232 73655013, call +232 73655013, or email info@slihsd.org.
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development (SLIHSD) · Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone · WhatsApp Business +232 73655013 · info@slihsd.org · slihsd.org
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Certificates issued reflect completion of SLIHSD short courses and are not presented as accredited academic awards.