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AfID Workshop: International Development Training Course

'Building International NGO capacity through Financial Management' 

 

A practical insight for accountants looking to volunteer or work in International Development

Presented by John Cammack CIPFA & Neil Jennings, AfID Founder

 

Next date: To be confirmed

Venue: ICAEW Chartered Accountants’ Hall, London
Timings: Registration 8:15am to 8:30am, Workshop 8:30am to 5:00pm
Cost: £185+VAT (If you later go on to volunteer through AfID £50 of the workshop fee will be deemed as part of the volunteer placement fee)
Booking: To book email info@afid.org.uk

 

INTRODUCTION

The AfID workshop is a fun, informative and interactive day designed both for accountants looking to volunteer overseas and those considering a career move into the sector.

Join us in learning about the world of international development, the financial capacity needs of non-profits across the developing world and the vital role played by finance professionals.
 
 
WORKSHOP STRUCTURE

The day is very relaxed and is carefully designed to provide a detailed insight into the different challenges, stakeholders and environments you will encounter in the development sector; mixing real case studies and volunteer/employee feedback with John and Neil's wealth of experience.
 
Participants will be actively encouraged to participate in discussions and group work, as well as to ask questions applicable to their individual circumstances. John and Neil will draw on both theoretical and practical knowledge in order to make the experience and learning applicable to each attendee’s professional background, level of experience and future plans.
 
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
 

8:15-8:30 - Registration, coffee & tea (available throughout the day)

 

9:00-11:30 - Morning Session

  • Introductions and context
  • Whistle-stop tour of non-government organisations and the not for profit sector
  • What is the sector like? What are the challenges? What are our concerns? 
  • Experiencing a new culture – the practicalities of living and working overseas
  • Assessing and building financial capacity
  • The role and impact of funders and core cost management

11:30-12:00 - Past Volunteer Presentation and Q&A

 

12:00-13:00 - Lunch Break

 

13:00-17:00 - Afternoon Session

  • Tools for building financial capacity in grassroots NGOs
  • The AfID reporting schedule
  • “What if… ?” -  Bite size scenarios from the field
  • Next steps, feedback and questions
 
BENEFITS

 

Following the workshop, you will be able to:

  • Explain the role of financial management in NGOs internationally
  • Identify practical techniques to review and strengthen NGOs financial management
  • Understand the cultural differences when working overseas
  • Understand the role of funders and ways to enable maximum use of the process
  • Understand the role and value of accountants working in the sector
  • Recognise how your own skills and experience can be applied to make a lasting difference

 

AUDIENCE

 

The workshop is open to all and we welcome individuals of all levels of training & qualification; from AAT, PQ and finalists right through to Qualified, Fellows, Partners and retired accountants.

 

PRESENTERS

 

Each workshop is delivered by John Cammack, a very experienced independent consultant in the non-profit sector. John is a qualified CIPFA accountant, consultant and university lecturer. He has been involved with international development work for over 30 years, previously as Head of International Finance at Oxfam GB and then Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Financial Management at Oxford Brookes University. Read more about John Cammack.

 

Neil Jennings, the founder of Accounting for International Development, will also be in attendance to answer any volunteering, career or AfID partner related questions.

 

TESTIMONIALS

 

"The workshop helped me tremendously during my job interview. The knowledge I acquired at the workshop boosted my confidence and performance during my interviews. As a result, it helped me secure my dream job and also start a career in International Development."

Kemi O - Auditor, Save the Children

 

"It was reassuring that most people had some level of doubt about what skills they had to offer. The workshop gave us the confidence that we really could add a great deal of value"

Mary (ACA) - Finance Director

 

“Really well delivered and great workshop format from highly experienced professionals in this field. Impressed by breadth of their experience and how they were able to answer many macro-level but also micro-level practical questions.”

Ann (ACCA) – Management Accountant

 

 “It was a great way to find out about how the NGO sector is organised, what challenges organisations in this sector face and the different ways in which accountants can help them. I am now very motivated to become involved as a volunteer!”

Maren (ACA) – Senior Manager

 


“Left feeling so excited about the possibilities for "giving back". Really interesting day learning about real issues faced by NGOs and the challenges faced by volunteers looking to support them.”

Charlotte (ACA) - Auditor

 

Workshop programme

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

9:00-11:30 - Morning Session

  • Introductions and context
  • Whistle-stop tour of non-government organisations and the not for profit sector
  • What is the sector like? What are the challenges? What are our concerns? 
  • Experiencing a new culture – the practicalities of living and working overseas
  • Assessing and building financial capacity
  • The role and impact of funders and core cost management

11:30-12:00 - Past Volunteer Presentation and Q&A

12:00-13:00 - Lunch Break

13:00-17:00 - Afternoon Session

  • Tools for building financial capacity in grassroots NGOs
  • The AfID reporting schedule
  • “What if… ?” -  Bite size scenarios from the field
  • Next steps, feedback and questions
Meet John Cammack
John Cammack, author of Building Financial Management Capacity,  is a highly experienced independent consultant in the non-profit sector. He is a qualified accountant, manager and teacher. John holds an MSc in international Development management, and an MBA, he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and accountancy (CIPFA), and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). 

John has been involved with international development work for over 25 years and previously held the positions of Head of International Finance at Oxfam, and Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Financial Management at Oxford Brookes University. Now a self-employed consultant, he is always jet-setting around the world providing advice, training and coaching for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). 
 
Author of several books about financial management for NGOs and speaker at AfID Workshops since our very first Workshop in 2009, John is both well qualified to speak and also very well versed on the subject of building NGO’s capacity through financial management.
 
For more information please visit www.johncammack.net

Living outside the UK?
Nearly 40% of our volunteers come from outside the UK, and you will be pleased to hear we are able to provide all the information and guidance you need. Detailed case studies, past volunteer reports, country guides, technical manuals and reporting templates are provided along with two pdf books Building Capacity Through Financial Management and Communicating Financial Management with Non-Finance People written by John Cammack, our workshop presenter.

We can also put you in contact with former volunteers to give even more insight, and should you decide to go on placement we will arrange phone calls between you and the local staff at the charity before you travel, so that you can hear a friendly voice and clarify any unanswered logistical questions.
Workshop gallery
Building NGO capacity through financial management; A practical workshop for accountants interested in International Development

31 October Workshop;







29 August workshop;



             




             



            



 
Volunteer Presentations

At each workshop one of our past volunteers will give a presentation on their assignment and talk about their experiences. They will happily answer any questions you may have. I'm sure you will find it refreshing to hear other volunteers have had similar concerns to your own and you'll find quite inspiring to hear how they overcame their concerns to go onto have rewarding assignments.

Whist we are unable to show you videos of these presentations we have attached their powerpoint presentations to short case studies. Follow the links below and you'll find some great insights and pictures of life on assignment.


John (FCMA) - Butterflies, India (3 months)

Karim (ACA)- Dream Achievers Youth Organisation, Kenya & Kyaninga Child Development Centre, Uganda (10 weeks)

Kate (ACA) - Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru, Peru (6 weeks)

Chizoba (ACMA) - Brooklyn Bridge 2 Cambodia, Cambodia (7 weeks)

Carl (PQ CIMA) - Cambodia Rural Development Trust, Cambodia (3 months)

 
Matthias (CIMA) Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano, Guatemala (3 months) 
 
 
Alexandra (ACA) - Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology, Malawi (10 weeks)

Joanna (CIPFA) - Salt Academy, Cambodia (3 weeks)

Sally (ICAS) - Health Poverty Action, Sierra  Leone (2 months)

Lee San (FCCA) - Kasiisi  Project, Uganda ( 3 months)

Emily (CIMA) - ISS, Nepal (2 months)


If you are a past volunteer and are interested in presenting at an upcoming workshop, please be in touch with us at info@afid.org.uk.


+44 (0) 208 741 7000
info@afid.org.uk