Strategic Finance Policy review and update initiative

About horizont3000

horizont3000 is an Austrian NGO working in the area of development cooperation. With the mandate of its member organisations of the Catholic development sector and the Austrian development cooperation, HORIZONT3000 specializes in the monitoring and implementation of projects as well as provision of advisors in developing countries. The Regional Office in East Africa is located in Kampala, and oversees programs and projects in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in the sectors of (i) Secure livelihood, (ii) strengthening civil society and (iii) sharing knowledge. For more details about HORIZONT3000, visit http://www.horizont3000.org

About the Transperancy project

The Transperancy project aims to combat corruption through several key initiatives. It focuses on establishing a common understanding of corruption and its impacts, while also improving standards and formats such as due diligence checklists, a traffic light system for categorizing partner organizations, and revising monitoring standards for partner visits.

On a broader scale,the project aims to foster an environment where integrity is valued and corruption is opposed. The project aims to increase awareness among HORIZONT3000 national and international staff, thereby strengthening capacities to combat corruption both internally and externally.

At the partner level, the project seeks to document current standards of financial management and internal control systems. The primary beneficiaries include staff and board members of partner organizations under the Austrian Development Agency framework partners and selected partners of our member organizations incuding DKA, BSIN & WHG.

About the Strategic Finance Policy Review and Update

The effective management of financial resources is crucial for the sustainable growth and impact of any organization, particularly within the context of our partnerships in development cooperation. At horizont3000 we recognize that robust financial controls and policies form the cornerstone of accountable and transparent operations. Therefore, we are initiating a focused effort to strengthen the financial policies of our partner organizations. This initiative aims to ensure that each partner has in place comprehensive and tailored finance policies that align with their unique operational contexts and challenges.

The activity will involve a thorough review of the existing financial policies of each partner organization. Our approach emphasizes collaboration, with consultants working closely alongside each partner to assess the adequacy and relevance of current policies. Where necessary, these policies will be revised or entirely developed a new, taking into account the specific needs and circumstances of each partner. By customizing finance policies in this manner, we aim to enhance financial management practices, mitigate risks, and ultimately support our partners in achieving greater organizational efficiency and impact.

Overall Goal

To review and update the finance policies of partner organizations and Regional Office East Africa to to strengthen financial governance and management practices.

Specific Objectives

1. To conduct a thorough review of the finance policies of 3 partner organizations or Regional office East Africa
2. To equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and effectively implement updated finance policies, fostering improved financial governance, compliance
3. To support 3 partner organizations to standardize their finance policies to promote consistency and clarity in financial management practices.
4. To integrate comprehensive risk management frameworks into finance policies to effectively identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks across partner organizations and the Regional Office.
5. To support 3 partner organizations in East Africa to develop standardized finance policies tailored to their operational contexts and best practices

Major tasks

Assessment and Needs Identification

• Conduct an initial assessment to understand the current finance policies and practices of each partner organization.
• Identify specific needs, gaps, and areas for improvement in their finance policies.

Developing a Template and Guidelines

• Create a standardized finance policy template and guidelines based on best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Tailor the template to accommodate variations in organizational size, complexity, and operational context.

Training Sessions

• Conduct training sessions for key staff members and board members of partner organizations on the importance of finance policies and the elements of the standardized template.
• Provide guidance on how to adapt and customize the template to fit each organization’s specific needs

Coaching and Support

• Offer ongoing coaching and support to assist partner organizations in applying the template to their unique circumstances.
• Provide one-on-one sessions or group workshops to address questions, clarify concepts, and facilitate discussions on policy implementation challenges.

Review and Feedback

• Facilitate regular review meetings to assess progress, review draft policies, and provide constructive feedback.

Finalization

• Assist partner organizations in finalizing their finance policies based on feedback and discussions.

Mode of Engagement

The suggested mode of engagement for supporting partner organizations in developing standardized finance policies involves a structured approach of workshops, coaching sessions, and peer learning opportunities. Initial workshops introduce the importance of finance policies and present a standardized template, followed by sessions to customize the template to each organization’s needs. Ongoing coaching provides support throughout the policy development process, with regular feedback and review sessions to ensure progress. Peer exchange workshops foster mutual learning, while a final workshop focuses on policy finalization.

Engagement Period

• June 24th to 28th 2024, receiving offers from consultants
• July 1st to July 12th, 2024, reviewing offers, selection and contracting
• July 15th to August 16th 2024, Implementation and finalization

Note that this is a 6-day assignment spread across a month and financial offers should be for the support for 3 partner organization spread across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

Consultant Profile

Experience

• Proven track record in financial management and policy development, preferably with 5 years experience in designing and implementing finance policies for nonprofit organizations or similar entities.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting assessments of existing policies, identifying gaps, and implementing improvements to enhance financial governance.
• Experience in facilitating workshops, training sessions, and providing one-on-one coaching to build capacity and transfer knowledge effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the East African context and challenges specific to the region’s nonprofit sector.

Education

• Advanced degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or other relevant certifications in finance and project management.