Grants Management Manual

The Grants Management Manual is a comprehensive, open-source resource developed through an IRC-led initiative funded by Sida with NEAR advisory support, designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Global South build stronger, more consistent grants management practices. Written in accessible language and structured modularly, the manual covers the full grant lifecycle — from donor engagement, funding-opportunity tracking, and Go/No-Go decision-making, through proposal development, budgeting, compliance, and award management. Drawing on Results-Based Management (RBM) principles and practical tools such as Go/No-Go forms, logical frameworks, budget templates, risk registers, and RACI charts, it equips grant managers, development officers, and program staff with the frameworks needed to strengthen donor relationships, improve proposal quality, and support sustainable funding diversification — making it especially valuable for small and medium CSOs operating with lean teams and limited resources.