Our offering
NIRAS works with our clients to design and deliver grant funds as strategic, accountable mechanisms that ensure ODA and non-ODA finance is allocated, monitored, and reported effectively to achieve sustainable and measurable outcomes. We combine robust governance, risk management, financial oversight, evidence-based decision making, and stakeholder engagement to maximise impact, ensure compliance with donor requirements, and deliver value for money while supporting local ownership and long-term development goals.
We support clients across the full grant lifecycle. From fund design, launch and applicant selection through to contracting, grant administration, financial management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, knowledge management, reporting and closure, we help clients deliver funding efficiently, accountably and with lasting impact.
We work with our clients throughout the grant cycle: drawing on lessons learned, designing procedures, running calls for applications and help desks, screening and shortlisting applicants, coordinating evaluations, and overseeing safeguarding and fraud prevention. We also recruit and support expert committees, disburse awards, administer contracts, guide grant implementation and communications, and monitor and evaluate both individual projects and the collective impact of each fund. At every stage, we draw on decades of experience to deliver effective, efficient and diligent grant administration.
Secure LLMs support the efficiency of screening applications against eligibility criteria, summarising proposals, identifying potential risks or inconsistencies, and extracting key information for reviewers. This enables grant managers and technical assessors to focus their expertise on evaluating quality, value for money, feasibility, and strategic fit. Final funding decisions remain the responsibility of independent, trained staff, ensuring that professional judgement, transparency, fairness, and accountabilityare maintained throughout the assessment process.
- Set clear criteria, timelines and accessible guidance
- Screen applications and assess value for money
- Complete due diligence, risk checks and moderation
- Contract awards and mobilise grantees
- Support projects with expert advice and proportionate controls
- Monitor delivery, finance, risks and safeguarding
- Process claims, changes and grant agreement requirements
- Apply adaptive management where context changes
- Collect evidence, lessons and portfolio insights
- Review what worked and where processes can improve
- Feed learning into guidance, systems and future rounds
- Strengthen impact, accountability and accessibility
- Define strategic priorities and fund outcomes
- Develop guidance, templates and application systems
- Run communications, outreach and application systems
- Run communications, outreach and applicant support
- Launch the funding opportunity
While grant funds can be deployed to mobilise private sector investment, financial products such as credit guarantees and other blended finance products provide new ways to yield impact and leverage further investment – from the private sector in the developing world and internationally. Impact investment is another crucial area where NIRAS can support connecting investment funds with high-potential firms across the developing world leverages our deep sector and geographical expertise on behalf of investors.
A snapshot of projects
