Executive Summary

This course empowers participants to assess the social and economic impacts of government reforms using structured methodologies and practical tools.

It focuses on fiscal, economic, and public service reforms, offering strategies for measuring their effects on different population groups and closing the gap between policy and implementation.

Through hands-on exercises and regional case studies, participants will develop the skills to evaluate reforms in a balanced way that promotes both development goals and social equity.

Introduction

In response to growing financial and economic pressures, many governments are implementing major reforms to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

However, without proper impact analysis, these reforms may have unintended consequences on vulnerable groups and widen social disparities.

This course introduces a practical framework for pre- and post-implementation evaluation of reforms, assessing their macroeconomic and social consequences to support evidence-based decision-making.

Course Objectives

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

• Understand the key concepts and objectives of government reforms
• Differentiate between types of reforms and their implications
• Apply economic and social impact analysis tools
• Assess short- and long-term effects on affected stakeholders
• Design evidence-based impact assessments using real data
• Integrate social dimensions into economic policy reforms
• Develop structured policy evaluation reports

Target Audience

• Officials from ministries of finance, economy, planning, and social affairs
• Researchers and analysts from government policy units and think tanks
• Staff in oversight bodies and public policy offices
• Senior and mid-level decision-makers in reform agencies
• Government advisors and policy designers

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Public Sector Reform

• Definition and goals of government reforms

• Economic and social drivers of reform

• Types of reforms: fiscal, institutional, service delivery

• Factors of success and failure in past reforms

• Regional and global models for managing reform

Day 2: Conceptual Framework for Impact Analysis

• What is impact analysis and why does it matter?

• Categories of impact: economic, social, institutional

• Mapping affected groups: vulnerable populations, private sector, civil society

• Qualitative and quantitative tools for impact analysis

• Social risk assessment in reform processes

Day 3: Economic Impact Evaluation

• Effects on economic growth and investment climate

• Impacts on public finances, taxes, and subsidies

• Price reforms and consumer behavior

• Effects on employment, wages, and labor market dynamics

• Key macroeconomic indicators and models

Day 4: Social Impact Evaluation

• Effects on social equity and cohesion

• Analyzing disparities by geography, gender, income, and age

• Tools for evaluating impacts on education, health, and public services

• Including voices of affected groups in the evaluation

• Case study from the Arab region

Day 5: Designing a Comprehensive Impact Study

• Steps to conducting a government reform impact study

• Data collection and scenario analysis techniques

• Developing an impact analysis matrix

• Writing policy briefs with conclusions and actionable recommendations

• Group workshop: analyzing a real reform case

Conclusion

This course equips participants with the analytical capabilities to evaluate government reforms comprehensively and objectively.

By identifying risks, measuring outcomes, and aligning reforms with equity and development goals, participants will help their institutions implement reforms that are both effective and socially responsible.