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CG Budget Tool Instructions
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This budget tool is designed a bit differently than a traditional budget where costs are estimated per line item. In this tool, field staff and HQ teams begin by estimating how much specific activities or sub-activities cost (such as fuel cost/kilometer). The budget tool then automatically fills in the budget detail (estimated costs) based upon the expenses entered. This budget tool was originally designed by Carolyn Wetzel of Food for the Hungry (cwetzel@fh.org) and is provided to CG practitioners worldwide for their use.

It is important to be as accurate as possible in both your cost estimates and in the types of costs included for your specific project. This tool is designed to be used in Care Group projects in a variety of locations and situations. Therefore, some of the expenses listed will not apply to your program or, if included, could put your program too far over budget.
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CG Budget Tool Steps:
1. Read through the instructions :)
2. Continue with the "Cost Assumptions" page.
The yellow boxes should be completed by those familiar with currency and costs in the project area.
The green boxes should be completed by the HQ Technical Staff.
3. The "Budget Detail" and "Budget Summary" tabs will be automatically completed.
4. Review the Budget Detail very carefully and check the total against your total program budget.
5. Return to the "Cost Assumptions" page and make adjustments to align costs to your overall budget.
6. The "DIP-Activity Budget" attempts to align your program budget with a typical CG DIP and activities.
This is an important step to ensure that there is enough money to conduct all the planned activities.
7. The DIP tab will also fill in automatically based on your estimates in "Cost Assumptions"
8. Review it very carefully to identify any areas where the activities and budget do not align.
9. Also included in this tool is a list of the CG Modules.
This is an informational page that informs how many Modules/Lessons were included in the tool.
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Helpful Tips for using the CG Budget Tool:
*Most of the costs are estimated based on local currency and then adjusted in the budget detail into
US Dollars based on the rate specified in the "Cost Assumption" tab.
*Abbreviations include: Project Office (PO); Country Office (CO); Local Currency (LC); US Dollar (USD)
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