Faculty & Staff

The purpose of this manual is to guide Mailman School Department Administrators, project officers, and principal investigators (PIs) in establishing and implementing international programs and projects.

It provides policies and procedures for operating an international project, with an emphasis on:

• complying with Columbia University policy,
• auditors’ standards, and
• the relevant rules and regulations of the University’s funding agencies, especially the U.S. government (USG).

It assumes that most international projects are implemented in resource-poor countries.

Those engaged in international projects are urged to use this manual to cause or create an atmosphere of compliance and risk management. Given the wide range of operating contexts in resource-poor countries, the manual cannot respond to all risk scenarios that may arise. For example, the guidance for human resources management may be weak or irrelevant in the context of a complex humanitarian crisis.

If the project leadership determines that risks are jeopardizing compliance or inhibiting effective project implementation, the PI should initiate consultations with other Mailman School or University departments and seek a determination on supplemental or replacement risk governance to meet the project’s needs.

Note that this manual is not a program handbook. It does not cover how to design and implement research and public health programs.