Accounting & Finance5-day programme

Grant Management & Compliance for Research & Innovation Projects

Dates22–26 Feb 2027

LocationVilnius, Lithuania

VenueTBD

Programme Overview

Grant-funded research and innovation projects operate in a highly regulated environment where funding agencies demand transparency, accountability, measurable results, and strict compliance with financial and procurement rules, making effective grant management and compliance for research and innovation projects critical to funding continuity and institutional credibility.

The Grant Management & Compliance for Research & Innovation Projects Training is designed to equip participants with the practical knowledge and tools required to manage donor-funded research and innovation grants effectively. The programme focuses on the full grant lifecycle, from award acceptance and implementation to reporting, audits, and project closure, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, institutional policies, and international best practices.

This training bridges the gap between research excellence and compliant project execution, enabling institutions and project teams to safeguard funding, deliver results, and build credibility with international donors and funding agencies. This training also builds on practical grant management approaches similar to those applied in our Effective Grants Management Programme in Manila, with added emphasis on research and innovation compliance.

Target Audience

This training is designed for professionals involved in managing, implementing, or overseeing research and innovation grants, including:

University research administrators and grants officers
Principal investigators (PIs) and co-investigators
Innovation and research center managers
Project and programme managers
Finance and accounting officers supporting grants
Procurement and contract officers in research institutions
Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting specialists
Staff of ministries, funding agencies, and project coordination units
Donor-funded project teams and implementing partners

Check the fit for your team

Tick what your team needs to be able to do.

Understand the full lifecycle of research and innovation grants Interpret grant agreements, donor rules, and compliance obligations Manage grant budgets, eligible expenditures, and cost controls Apply procurement and contract management rules under donor-funded grants Strengthen financial reporting, documentation, and audit readiness Identify and mitigate compliance, fiduciary, and implementation risks

Tick the items that apply

Course Objectives – Grant Management and Compliance Training

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be able to:

Understand the full lifecycle of research and innovation grants
Interpret grant agreements, donor rules, and compliance obligations
Manage grant budgets, eligible expenditures, and cost controls
Apply procurement and contract management rules under donor-funded grants
Strengthen financial reporting, documentation, and audit readiness
Identify and mitigate compliance, fiduciary, and implementation risks
Align research outputs with donor results frameworks and indicators
Close grants effectively while meeting reporting and sustainability requirements

This training also strengthens accountability and audit readiness in donor-funded grants, reflecting approaches applied in our Grants Management & Accountability Workshop in Poland.

Programme Structure and Contents

Your 5-day journey tap a day to see the sessions

- Overview of research and innovation funding mechanisms
- Types of grants: research, innovation, capacity building, collaborative grants
- Roles and responsibilities of grant recipients and implementing partners
- Understanding grant agreements, schedules, and donor expectations
- Key compliance principles: accountability, transparency, value for money
- Grant budgeting and financial planning
- Eligible vs. ineligible costs
- Direct and indirect costs in research projects
- Cost allocation, cost sharing, and matching funds
- Financial controls, documentation, and record keeping
- Managing currency, advances, and cash flow under grants
- Procurement rules commonly applied to donor-funded grants
- Goods, services, and consulting procurement in research projects
- Supplier selection, documentation, and compliance risks
- Contract management for laboratories, IT systems, and research services
- Managing variations, amendments, and delivery delays
- Avoiding conflicts of interest and procurement irregularities
- Technical and financial reporting requirements
- Results frameworks, outputs, and performance indicators
- Managing milestones, deliverables, and timelines
- Internal controls and audit preparation
- Handling audits, reviews, and donor supervision missions
- Responding to audit findings and corrective action plans
- Common compliance risks in research and innovation projects
- Fraud, misrepresentation, and ethical risks
- Managing changes, extensions, and grant restructuring
- Grant close-out procedures and final reporting
- Sustainability of research outcomes after grant completion
- Action planning for participants’ institutions and projects

Full day-by-day contents

First Day | Foundations of Grant Management for Research & Innovation

Overview of research and innovation funding mechanisms
Types of grants: research, innovation, capacity building, collaborative grants
Roles and responsibilities of grant recipients and implementing partners
Understanding grant agreements, schedules, and donor expectations
Key compliance principles: accountability, transparency, value for money

Second Day | Financial Management & Cost Compliance

Grant budgeting and financial planning
Eligible vs. ineligible costs
Direct and indirect costs in research projects
Cost allocation, cost sharing, and matching funds
Financial controls, documentation, and record keeping
Managing currency, advances, and cash flow under grants

Third Day | Procurement & Contract Management Under Research Grants

Procurement rules commonly applied to donor-funded grants
Goods, services, and consulting procurement in research projects
Supplier selection, documentation, and compliance risks
Contract management for laboratories, IT systems, and research services
Managing variations, amendments, and delivery delays
Avoiding conflicts of interest and procurement irregularities

Fourth Day | Monitoring, Reporting & Audit Readiness

Technical and financial reporting requirements
Results frameworks, outputs, and performance indicators
Managing milestones, deliverables, and timelines
Internal controls and audit preparation
Handling audits, reviews, and donor supervision missions
Responding to audit findings and corrective action plans

Fifth Day | Risk Management, Compliance & Grant Closure

Common compliance risks in research and innovation projects
Fraud, misrepresentation, and ethical risks
Managing changes, extensions, and grant restructuring
Grant close-out procedures and final reporting
Sustainability of research outcomes after grant completion
Action planning for participants’ institutions and projects

Grant Management & Compliance Training Methodology

The training is delivered through a practice-oriented, expert-led methodology combining:

Interactive lectures and facilitated discussions
Real-life donor-funded research and innovation case studies
Hands-on exercises using grant documents and templates
Group work on budgeting, reporting, and compliance scenarios
Practical tools, checklists, and grant management templates
Peer exchange and institutional experience sharing

The methodology emphasizes immediate applicability, enabling participants to apply grant management and compliance practices directly within their research institutions and projects.

The delivery approach builds on practical experience from similar regional programmes, including our Effective Grants Management Training in Tirana, with emphasis on real grant scenarios and donor-compliant reporting.

Expected Outcomes – Grant Management & Compliance for Research & Innovation Projects

By the end of the training, participants will:

Demonstrate improved capability in managing donor-funded research grants
Reduce compliance risks and audit exposure
Strengthen financial control and reporting accuracy
Improve coordination between researchers, finance, and procurement units
Enhance institutional credibility with donors and funding agencies
Increase the success rate of grant implementation and closure

Plan your team's places

£4,360 per participant · invoice and bank transfer · groups of 5 or more receive a discount

1participant(s)

£4,360at the standard fee

Registration closes in 77 days (3 Jan 2027)

Host Country Profile – Grant Management & Compliance Training

Vilnius provides a strong and credible European setting for Grant Management & Compliance for Research & Innovation Projects Training. As the capital of Lithuania and a member of the European Union, the country operates under EU-aligned governance, public financial management, procurement, audit, and research funding frameworks.

Lithuania has extensive experience implementing EU structural funds, Horizon Europe projects, World Bank programmes, and international research and innovation grants, making it a relevant environment for understanding donor compliance, fiduciary controls, and audit readiness. The country’s higher education institutions and research centers actively participate in cross-border research, innovation partnerships, and grant-funded capacity-building initiatives.

Hosting the programme in Vilnius allows participants to explore best practices in grant governance, financial accountability, procurement compliance, and results-based management within a European regulatory context. The city offers a professional training environment, strong institutional credibility, modern infrastructure, and convenient international connectivity, supporting effective peer exchange and applied learning for grant-funded research and innovation projects.

Course Deliverables

Participants will enjoy a full-service experience that covers everything needed before, during, and after the programme:

Before the Programme

Pre-training needs assessment focused on grant management and compliance challenges
Programme briefing and preparatory reading materials
Overview of donor rules commonly applied to research and innovation grants
Grant compliance self-assessment checklist
Logistical and visa guidance (where applicable)

During the Programme

Accommodation with Breakfast
Welcome Networking Dinner with fellow participants and the Risalat team
Comprehensive Course Manual & Training Materials focused on research and innovation grants
Grant Management Toolkit, including:
Budgeting and financial tracking templates
Procurement and contract compliance checklists
Reporting and audit-readiness tools
Project-Based Templates, Tools, and Worksheets tailored to research and innovation projects
Digital Case Studies, Reading Packs & Reference Materials from real donor-funded programmes
Access to Sample Grant Documents and Datasets for hands-on exercises
Practical Group Exercises and Compliance Simulations
Field Visit or Applied Institutional Session (where applicable)
Daily Lunch and Complimentary Refreshments during training days
Full Training Venue Facilities and Learning Support
Access to Online Learning Resources related to grant management and compliance
Guided City Experience in Vilnius for informal networking and cultural exposure
Certificate of Completion
Risalat Programme Participation Recognition Award

After the Programme

Post-training reference materials and updated grant compliance tools
Guidance on applying grant management systems within participants’ institutions
Practical recommendations for improving audit readiness and donor reporting
Continued engagement through future research, innovation, governance, and donor-funded project programmes

Participants may also review selected institutional engagements from our Effective Grant Management Workshop portfolio, demonstrating applied grant compliance, financial controls, and donor reporting practices.

Participants interested in expanding their negotiation and stakeholder engagement capabilities may also consider programmes such as our Negotiation, Stakeholder & Diplomacy Training for Government Officials.

TopicsAudit and internal control Contract management Governance and anti-corruption Monitoring and evaluation Public procurement

What the fee covers

Visa Assistance (complimentary)

Participant Assessment

Airport Pickup

Accommodation

Wi-Fi

Welcome Dinner

Breakfast

Workshop Kit

Programme Materials

Programme Experts

Practical Activities

Lunch

Refreshments

Interactive workshop

Mini Pad or Tab

Risalat T-shirt (complimentary)

Field Visit

Programme Certificate

Entertaining Tour

Programme Report

Programme fee£4,360per participant · groups of 5+ receive a discount Register now → Request an invoice

Registration and payment deadline: 3 Jan 2027

No online payment, invoice by email
Pay by bank transfer to confirm your seat
Complimentary visa assistance

More options

Download the brochure Request the online version Request an in-house proposal

Discount plans & cancellation policy

DISCOUNT PLANS

Standard fees stated on the website apply to all individual applicants. You Shall qualify for the discount if you register as a group. The group should consist of at least three people or more that are willing to attend the same training program/workshop. The discount rates are offered on case-by-case basis. To get detailed information and individualized offer please get in touch with one of our country/regional offices.

If you and/or your organization are members of Risalat Club, you will be entitled to special discounted rates, exclusive offers, and preferential terms. To get a detailed offer please contact one of our country offices mentioning your unique 8-digit membership number (in the format of RCM********).

Scholarships and Fee Waivers

Available Scholarships and Fee Waiver Opportunities will be announced on our Website’s News Page and Risalat Social Media. We offer a limited number of Scholarships for selected programs within the scope of CSR.

Please consider that sponsored places are oftentimes very limited and highly competitive. Award criteria will be published for each program separately once the call for application opens.

REFUND AND CANCELLATION

For Individual Registrations and Group Registrations on Standard Training Programs/Workshops

Risalat has amended its refund policy that was in effect till 11 December 2018. For registrations and payments made from this date onwards, refunds are no longer possible. Such a decision is driven by below circumstances:

Risalat is committed to maintaining top-notch quality of its training programs/workshops. Although the demand is high, we can only offer very limited places for each batch. Unless there is an exceptional situation, we cannot accept any new registrations after the deadline as we dedicate plenty of time to thorough preparation to meet the individual needs of registered delegates. Thus, any cancellation after the date will result in an idle place on the program.
According to the policy that was in effect till 11 December 2018, the participant was charged at least 50% of the full payment in case of the cancellation. Therefore, many of our clients and partners have been requesting for preferential terms for registration resubmissions and the option of rescheduling instead of cancellation.

From 11 December 2018, the participants are offered the following options:

Each participant is allowed to reschedule the training program dates up to a maximum of 3 times at zero charge within 1 calendar year from the date of registration. This offer is valid as long as the participant reschedules for the same program in the same location or in a different location but same price range.
The organization is allowed to change or replace sponsored participants at no charge as well within one calendar year from the date of registration. An extension of this period can be granted in special circumstances.
The organization can replace the sponsored participant while changing the program of choice as well. As long as the programs are priced at the same level.

Please note, that above offers are valid only if the participant/organization submits the relevant request to Risalat at least 7 Working days prior to the program start dates. Otherwise, the individual/organization will only be entitled to an exclusive discount voucher for registration resubmission in the future (should there be any).

For Exclusive Group Registrations and Custom-Made Programs

Risalat administers dozens of custom-made programs that can be designed and developed based on the clients’ individual requests and requirements. In case if you have registered for tailor-made training course or you have requested exclusive group training, you:

Shall be entitled to get a refund up to 50% of the total amount paid, if the request for cancellation is submitted at least 30 working days before intended program start date
Shall be entitled to get a refund of up to 25% of the total amount paid, if the request for cancellation is submitted at least 20 working days before intended program start date
In case if there are less than 20 working days remaining before the intended program start date, you shall not be entitled to any refund. In such situation, you can only receive an exclusive discount voucher for future registration resubmissions (should there be any)
You can reschedule the dates of exclusive group training or custom-made program for free up to 3 times within a year from the date of payment. This offer is valid only in case if you submit the request for rescheduling at least 10 working days before the intended start date of the program.

NB: All last-minute cancellations are treated as no show and are not eligible for refund.