Project Management for Grants – Strengthening Practices in the CNMI

This course will be delivered on-site in CNMI.

Registration for this course is invitation-only. Please email us for additional details.

This five-day course, delivered in morning sessions, provides a comprehensive introduction to federal grants and cooperative agreements from program conception through award closeout, with a strong emphasis on applying project management principles across the entire grants lifecycle. Participants examine how planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout activities intersect with federal policy and regulatory requirements, particularly the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200, to support compliance, performance, and audit readiness.

The course positions grants management as an integrated project management function rather than a purely administrative process. Participants explore how core project management elements—scope definition, timelines, risk identification and mitigation, budgeting, performance measurement, documentation, and stakeholder coordination—directly influence grant outcomes and federal accountability. Emphasis is placed on translating regulatory requirements into practical, day-to-day management decisions that are audit sound and aligned with program objectives.

Through a combination of instructor-led instruction, facilitated discussions, applied case studies, and role-playing scenarios, learners build the skills needed to manage federal awards proactively across all phases of the lifecycle. By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to integrate project management discipline into grants administration, strengthen internal controls, manage risk effectively, and support successful program delivery while meeting federal compliance and oversight expectations

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the federal grants and cooperative agreement lifecycle from program concept through closeout, including key roles, responsibilities, and decision points.
• Apply project management principles (scope, schedule, budget, risk, performance, communication, and stakeholder coordination) across all phases of the federal grants lifecycle
• Interpret and apply core requirements of the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200 to planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout activities.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, financial, and compliance risks using risk-based grants management practices.
• Align program objectives, budgets, timelines, and performance measures to support effective execution and accountability.
• Demonstrate audit-ready and defensible grants management practices through effective documentation, monitoring, and closeout strategies.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) personnel involved in the programmatic, fiscal, or administrative management of federal grants and cooperative agreements, including both new and experienced staff. The intended audience includes program staff, fiscal and financial management personnel, grants and compliance staff, monitoring and oversight personnel, and supervisors, managers, and directors responsible for planning, executing, monitoring, or overseeing grant-funded activities. The course is appropriate for rank-and-file staff through senior leadership and provides a shared framework and common language to support effective, compliant, and collaborative grants management across functional roles.