Governance and Oversight of State-Owned Enterprises and Public Corporations Training Course

Introduction
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and public corporations are critical instruments for national development, yet they face unique governance and oversight challenges. This training course provides a deep understanding of how SOEs operate within public policy frameworks and how governance structures can be designed to promote transparency, efficiency, and public accountability. Participants will gain insights into global best practices and the role of governance in improving performance and public trust.
The course examines the institutional frameworks that define SOE oversight, including ownership models, board composition, and executive accountability. Participants will learn how to align corporate governance principles with public policy goals while ensuring commercial viability. The course highlights the importance of balancing state objectives with financial discipline, ethical leadership, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
A key focus is the legal and regulatory environment that governs SOEs, including procurement, financial reporting, and public sector accountability mechanisms. Participants will explore how laws, regulations, and oversight institutions influence governance performance and risk management. The course also addresses how to manage political interference, ensure independence of boards, and uphold fiduciary duties within a public governance context.
Through real-world case studies, participants will analyze common governance failures in SOEs, such as weak oversight, corruption, political patronage, and misalignment of incentives. The course provides practical tools to strengthen internal controls, audit functions, and performance monitoring systems. Participants will also learn how to design effective governance frameworks that enhance operational efficiency and safeguard public resources.
Emerging governance issues such as ESG compliance, climate risk, digital transformation, and anti-corruption are integrated into the course. Participants will explore how modern SOEs can integrate sustainability reporting, climate risk management, and digital governance into their oversight frameworks. The course also covers how to handle public scrutiny, media pressure, and stakeholder expectations in the age of transparency.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to design and implement robust governance and oversight systems for SOEs and public corporations. The training builds capacity for government officials, board members, executives, auditors, and regulators to drive institutional reforms, strengthen accountability, and enhance performance. Participants will leave with practical strategies to improve governance and deliver public value.

Duration

5 days

Who Should Attend

• Government officials and policy makers overseeing SOEs
• Board members and non-executive directors of public corporations
• CEOs, Managing Directors, and senior executives of SOEs
• Corporate secretaries and governance professionals
• Auditors and internal control officers in public enterprises
• Regulatory and oversight agency officials
• Public finance and treasury officials
• Anti-corruption and integrity officers
• Public sector reform and governance specialists
• Development partners and institutional reform advisors

Course Objectives

• Understand the governance architecture of SOEs and public corporations, including ownership structures, accountability frameworks, and performance expectations.
• Strengthen board effectiveness through improved composition, independence, and strategic oversight of public enterprises.
• Develop legal and regulatory compliance frameworks tailored to SOEs, including procurement, financial reporting, and public accountability.
• Enhance transparency and integrity systems to prevent corruption, patronage, and governance abuse in public corporations.
• Design performance management systems that align public policy goals with commercial sustainability and financial discipline.
• Strengthen internal controls, audit functions, and risk management systems to improve operational efficiency and governance resilience.
• Apply best practices in public sector governance, including stakeholder engagement, public reporting, and accountability mechanisms.
• Address emerging governance risks such as ESG compliance, climate risk, and digital transformation within SOEs.
• Build strategies to manage political interference, regulatory pressure, and stakeholder expectations in public governance.
• Develop actionable reform plans to strengthen oversight, improve governance maturity, and deliver public value.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: SOE Governance Architecture

• Ownership models and governance structures
• Public policy objectives vs commercial mandates
• Board roles, responsibilities, and independence
• Governance frameworks and accountability mechanisms

Module 2: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

• Laws governing SOEs and public corporations
• Procurement, public finance, and compliance rules
• Public sector accountability institutions
• Legal consequences of governance failure

Module 3: Board Effectiveness and Leadership

• Board composition and skills matrix
• Executive appointment and performance oversight
• Board committees and governance best practices
• Managing conflicts of interest and political pressure

Module 4: Financial Oversight and Performance

• Financial reporting and transparency standards
• Budgeting, cost controls, and financial discipline
• Audit functions and internal control systems
• Performance measurement and value-for-money

Module 5: Risk Management and Internal Controls

• Enterprise risk management in SOEs
• Internal audit and compliance frameworks
• Fraud prevention and corruption risk controls
• Monitoring and reporting risk dashboards

Module 6: Ethics, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption

• Ethics frameworks and code of conduct
• Whistleblower protection and reporting systems
• Investigations, sanctions, and accountability
• Integrity assurance and compliance culture

Module 7: Stakeholder Engagement and Public Reporting

• Stakeholder mapping and communication strategies
• Public reporting, transparency, and disclosure
• Managing media, public scrutiny, and reputation
• Citizen engagement and service delivery accountability

Module 8: ESG and Sustainable Governance

• ESG integration in SOE strategy and reporting
• Climate risk and sustainability compliance
• Social responsibility and community impact
• ESG disclosures and sustainability performance

Module 9: Digital Governance and Transformation

• Digitalization of SOE operations and services
• Data governance, cybersecurity, and privacy
• Digital procurement and supply chain governance
• Digital oversight tools and performance analytics

Module 10: Reform and Institutional Strengthening

• Governance reform frameworks and change management
• Capacity building and institutional development
• Benchmarking and global best practices
• Designing reform roadmaps and implementation plans

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, guided tour and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better