This course provides a comprehensive foundation in public financial planning and budgeting processes, equipping participants with practical tools to develop, manage, and evaluate government budgets effectively.
It focuses on the core principles of fiscal discipline, strategic allocation of public resources, and performance-based budgeting.
Participants will gain the necessary knowledge to align financial planning with national priorities and ensure sustainable public financial management.
Public financial planning and budgeting are central to achieving efficient governance, ensuring transparency, and meeting developmental goals.
Governments face increasing pressure to optimize resource allocation, manage public expenditures responsibly, and ensure value for money.
This course introduces international best practices in public budgeting, including strategic planning, forecasting, budget execution, and monitoring, with an emphasis on results-oriented approaches.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Key concepts in public financial planning
• Objectives and components of public budgets
• Overview of fiscal policy and macroeconomic context
• Stages of the budget cycle: planning, execution, control
• International standards and principles (PEFA, OECD, IMF)
• Linking budgets with national development plans
• Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF)
• Prioritizing spending in constrained fiscal environments
• Participatory budgeting and stakeholder engagement
• Gender-responsive and climate-sensitive budgeting
• Forecasting revenue streams (taxes, grants, non-tax sources)
• Techniques for expenditure estimation and cost control
• Cash flow planning and fiscal space analysis
• Managing fiscal risks and economic shocks
• Debt sustainability and borrowing considerations
• Legal frameworks and institutions for budget execution
• Budget tracking and financial reporting tools
• Internal controls and expenditure verification
• Real-time budget monitoring systems
• Case studies in budget mismanagement and reform
• Results-based budgeting: linking inputs to outcomes
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in public finance
• Budget evaluation and policy impact assessment
• Developing fiscal transparency reports
• Final workshop: drafting and presenting a budget plan
This course provides government professionals with essential tools and strategies to plan, execute, and evaluate public budgets effectively.
By aligning financial planning with policy objectives and strengthening fiscal accountability, participants will contribute to more sustainable and responsive governance.