The IITA Project Development and Administration Unit (PDAU) has reinforced its commitment to strengthening institutional capacity among research and development partners through a three-day workshop on strategic resource mobilization and grants management. Held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 31 August to 2 September 2026, the workshop, themed “Driving donors’ confidence through strategic resource mobilization and grants management,” was designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools needed to build stronger donor relationships, improve grants management practices, and enhance institutional competitiveness for funding opportunities.
The training brought together 17 participants, comprising five women and 12 men, including researchers, senior executives, and institutional leaders from Njala University in Sierra Leone, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), the Institute for Agricultural Research (ABU-Zaria), the University of Ilorin, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Thomas Honeycomb Foundation, and IITA.
In his opening remarks, Dr Kayode Awobajo, Head of PDAU and lead facilitator for the workshop, expressed appreciation to the IITA Senior Management Team and several colleagues whose support contributed to the delivery of the training. He specifically acknowledged IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery and Scaling, Dr Tahirou Abdoulaye, IITA Deputy Director General, Research for Development, Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, the PDAU team, and colleagues from IITA headquarters and Abuja. He encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity by engaging actively in discussions, sharing experiences, and learning from one another.
Dr Awobajo opened the workshop by exploring the evolving funding landscape and highlighting opportunities for institutions to strengthen their approaches to strategic grants and resource mobilization. Discussions focused on identifying funding opportunities, building competitive institutional positioning, and developing systems that inspire donor confidence.
Over the three days, participants gained practical insights into the full grants management cycle. Sessions covered effective grant proposal development and management, project close-out procedures, and the management of no-cost extensions. Participants also received hands-on training in proposal budget development, working through real-life cases that enabled them to apply budgeting concepts in practical funding scenarios.
The workshop further examined the critical role of financial and technical reporting in donor-funded projects, emphasizing accountability, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with donor requirements. Participants were introduced to best practices in project data and records management, including tools and systems that support transparency, reporting efficiency, and organizational learning.
Day 3 featured a group presentation by participants on a role-play simulation, followed by a plenary discussion on lessons learned and an overall evaluation of the training.
The training concluded with discussions on governance, risk management, compliance, and institutional capacity strengthening, underscoring their importance in building trust with donors and sustaining long-term partnerships.
Feedback from participants commended the interactive approach adopted throughout the workshop and highlighted results of the training outcomes. At the close of the workshop, Dr Awobajo presented certificates of participation and commended attendees for their enthusiasm, commitment, and active engagement throughout the training. He encouraged participants to maintain connections with one another and with the IITA-PDAU team, noting that sustained collaboration would be essential for translating the knowledge gained into stronger institutional performance and more successful partnerships.
The workshop reflects part of PDAU’s continued commitment to strengthening the institutional capacity of IITA partners and fostering effective collaboration in resource mobilization, donor compliance, and grants management to enhance project implementation and development outcomes.
Contributed by
Ayodeji Ogunjale
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