Good Grant Practice Virtual Academy
Project Period
March 2025 - December 2025
Project Partners
Overview
African research and non-research organizations play a crucial role in driving innovation and development, yet many struggle with financial management and controls. These challenges hinder their ability to secure and manage funding effectively, limiting their impact on critical research and development initiatives.
The Good Grant Practice Virtual Academy initiative seeks to address these gaps by strengthening financial governance, enhancing grant compliance, and improving organizational sustainability. It will equip organizations with the tools, knowledge, and systems needed to boost transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing donor funds within the framework of the Good Financial Grant Practices (GFGP) standard.
Specifically, the initiative will provide structured training, mentorship, and technical assistance to organizations across the continent. It will leverage APHRC’s expertise in research and capacity strengthening to deliver targeted interventions, guiding organizations through best grant management practices and compliance with the GFGP standard. The project will facilitate self-assessments on the GFGP portal and organizational reviews to strengthen organizations’ financial governance and prepare them for GFGP certification.
A key component of this initiative is its implementation through the APHRC Virtual Learning Academy (VLA), ensuring accessible and scalable training for organizations across Africa. The VLA will serve as a platform for delivering interactive training modules, peer-to-peer learning, and expert-led mentorship to support organizations in adopting best financial management practices.
Key Objectives
- Improve financial management systems and processes in African organizations.
- Enhance transparency and accountability in grant management.
- Increase the number of African organizations securing direct donor funding.
- Establish a Community of Practice (CoP) for continuous learning.
- Support organizations with GFGP self-assessments and certification.
Approach
- Training: Delivered through a blend of self-paced courses through the APHRC Virtual Learning Academy, virtual sessions, and in-person workshops.
- Technical Assistance: Tailored one-on-one mentorship and virtual consultations provided to support organizations in implementing learned skills and progressing toward self-assessment and GFGP certification.
- Community of Practice: Online platform to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and collaborate to continuously improve grant management practices across organizations.
Courses
The initiative will develop and provide a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip organizations with the skills and knowledge necessary to strengthen financial governance, improve grant compliance, and enhance organizational sustainability. Participants will gain practical insights into financial management best practices, donor compliance, and risk mitigation strategies. Each module requires a dedication of approximately two (2) hours.
Courses offered include:
- Introduction to GFGP
- Financial Management and Controls
- Budgeting
- Risk Management
- Human Resource Management
- Governance
- Grant Management and Compliance
- Procurement
Project Team
- Joseph Gichuru – Project Lead
- Patrick Owili – Training Coordinator
- Gift Dzombo – Program Coordinator
- Benard Ondiek – Virtual Learning Academy Coordinator
- Kevin Kiiru – Project Accountant
- Gael Ekobono – Senior Project Officer
- Naomi Njenga – M&E Officer
- Ann Waithaka – Senior Communications Officer
- Wilfred Onchari – Multimedia Officer
- Gideon Kiprotich – Web Designer
- Cathrine Karanja – Administrative Officer