Communicating Financial Management With Non-finance People—A Manual for International Development Workers

Strong financial management skills are essential to promote high programme standards in international development organizations. Many non-finance people find numbers and financial techniques difficult, however, NGO managers and other staff are responsible for sound financial management and without full understanding their programmes will be at best less effective, and at worst vulnerable to going unfunded. Just providing more skills training does not address all the issues. Poor communication about financial information, by both finance and non-finance people, often seems to cause a block. This book helps people speak and write financial information better, avoiding jargon, and preventing their listeners from 'switching off'. It explains why messages about finance may not be received as they were intended when working cross-culturally and outlines how information can be tailored to different audiences. It outlines how to design training sessions that improve understanding and collaboration between finance and non-finance people, including partner organizations, trustees, and staff. This book shoud be read by non-finance and finance managers and staff within non-profit organizations internationally, as well as other organizations.