Public Investment Planning and Fiscal Risk Assessment Course

Course Introduction

Public investment planning and fiscal risk assessment are central to ensuring that governments allocate scarce resources efficiently while safeguarding long-term fiscal sustainability. This course provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how public investments are identified, prioritized, financed, and monitored within complex fiscal environments. It emphasizes the importance of aligning investment decisions with national development goals while maintaining strong fiscal discipline and risk awareness.

The course explores how public investment decisions are influenced by macroeconomic conditions, debt sustainability constraints, and institutional capacity. Participants will examine how poorly designed investment plans can lead to fiscal imbalances, rising debt burdens, and inefficient project outcomes. The training highlights the need for robust appraisal systems that integrate economic, social, and financial risk considerations.

A key focus of the course is fiscal risk assessment, which involves identifying, analyzing, and managing uncertainties that affect public investment outcomes. These risks include contingent liabilities, revenue shortfalls, cost overruns, exchange rate fluctuations, and implementation delays. Participants will learn how governments can proactively manage these risks using structured analytical tools and policy frameworks.

The course also addresses modern approaches to public investment management, including medium-term expenditure frameworks, public investment pipelines, and integrated project appraisal systems. It demonstrates how these tools improve decision-making, enhance transparency, and ensure that only viable and high-impact projects are funded and implemented.

Participants will gain practical knowledge on strengthening institutional coordination between ministries of finance, planning agencies, and sectoral departments. The course emphasizes how fragmented planning processes often lead to inefficiencies, and how integrated systems can improve alignment between policy priorities and fiscal realities.

Finally, the course equips participants with advanced skills to design resilient public investment systems capable of withstanding economic shocks and fiscal pressures. It prepares professionals to lead reforms that enhance accountability, reduce investment risks, and improve the overall quality of public spending decisions.

Duration

10 Days

Who Should Attend

• Public investment planners and analysts
• Ministry of finance and economic planning officials
• Fiscal risk management specialists
• Debt management and treasury officers
• Infrastructure and capital project managers
• Public sector economists and policy advisors
• Development partners and donor-funded project officers
• Budget officers and expenditure controllers
• Urban and regional development planners
• Public procurement and project appraisal professionals

Course Objectives

• Strengthen participant understanding of public investment planning frameworks to ensure efficient allocation of scarce fiscal resources in alignment with national development priorities and macroeconomic stability goals.
• Equip learners with advanced skills in fiscal risk identification, assessment, and mitigation to safeguard public finances from contingent liabilities and investment uncertainties.
• Build capacity to design and implement structured public investment pipelines that improve project selection, sequencing, and execution efficiency across government institutions.
• Enhance ability to integrate macroeconomic analysis into investment planning decisions, ensuring alignment with debt sustainability and fiscal space considerations.
• Develop practical skills in evaluating public investment projects using economic, social, and financial appraisal techniques for improved decision-making accuracy.
• Strengthen understanding of medium-term expenditure frameworks and their role in ensuring predictable and disciplined capital investment planning processes.
• Improve participant ability to analyze and manage risks associated with public-private partnerships and other complex infrastructure financing arrangements.
• Build expertise in monitoring and evaluating public investment performance using indicators, benchmarks, and real-time fiscal data systems.
• Strengthen institutional coordination skills between finance ministries, planning agencies, and sector ministries for improved investment governance.
• Enhance capacity to identify and manage fiscal shocks arising from revenue volatility, exchange rate fluctuations, and economic downturns.
• Equip participants with tools for integrating climate, environmental, and social risks into public investment decision-making processes.
• Prepare professionals to lead reforms that strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public investment management systems.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Public Investment Planning

• Understanding the principles of public investment planning and its role in economic development and fiscal sustainability frameworks
• Exploring institutional responsibilities in investment decision-making across government ministries and agencies
• Identifying key stages of public investment cycles from concept to completion and evaluation
• Assessing challenges that affect efficiency and effectiveness in public investment systems

Module 2: Macroeconomic Frameworks for Investment Decisions

• Linking public investment planning with macroeconomic stability and growth strategies for sustainable development outcomes
• Understanding fiscal space constraints and their influence on investment prioritization and project selection
• Analyzing debt sustainability considerations in shaping long-term investment strategies
• Evaluating economic indicators that guide investment planning decisions in government systems

Module 3: Public Investment Management Systems

• Designing integrated public investment management systems for efficient project selection and monitoring
• Strengthening project pipeline development to ensure quality and readiness of investment projects
• Improving coordination between planning, budgeting, and execution institutions
• Enhancing governance structures for transparent investment decision-making

Module 4: Project Appraisal and Feasibility Studies

• Applying cost-benefit analysis techniques to assess economic viability of public investment projects
• Conducting technical, financial, and environmental feasibility assessments for infrastructure investments
• Evaluating project alternatives to ensure optimal resource allocation decisions
• Strengthening evidence-based decision-making in investment approval processes

Module 5: Fiscal Risk Identification and Assessment

• Identifying fiscal risks arising from contingent liabilities, guarantees, and public-private partnerships
• Assessing macro-fiscal risks including revenue volatility and economic shocks affecting investment plans
• Analyzing implementation risks such as delays, cost overruns, and governance failures
• Strengthening institutional frameworks for early detection and mitigation of fiscal risks

Module 6: Public Debt and Investment Sustainability

• Understanding the relationship between public investment and debt accumulation dynamics
• Evaluating debt sustainability indicators in relation to capital investment programs
• Managing borrowing strategies to support productive investment without compromising fiscal stability
• Strengthening oversight of externally financed development projects

Module 7: Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks

• Integrating public investment planning into medium-term expenditure frameworks for fiscal discipline
• Enhancing predictability of funding allocations for capital projects across fiscal years
• Improving alignment between policy priorities and multi-year investment planning cycles
• Strengthening expenditure ceilings and fiscal controls for investment programs

Module 8: Risk Management in Public Investments

• Developing structured risk management frameworks for public sector investment portfolios
• Applying risk mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to financial and operational uncertainties
• Strengthening contingency planning for high-risk infrastructure projects
• Enhancing resilience of public investment systems to economic shocks

Module 9: Public-Private Partnerships and Fiscal Exposure

• Understanding PPP structures and their implications for fiscal risk and long-term commitments
• Evaluating contingent liabilities associated with PPP projects
• Strengthening contract design to minimize fiscal exposure and enhance value for money
• Improving monitoring of PPP project performance and risk allocation

Module 10: Infrastructure Investment Governance

• Strengthening governance frameworks for infrastructure planning and execution oversight
• Enhancing transparency in infrastructure project selection and implementation
• Addressing corruption risks and inefficiencies in capital investment systems
• Improving accountability mechanisms in infrastructure governance structures

Module 11: Investment Pipeline Development and Management

• Designing structured investment pipelines to ensure readiness and prioritization of projects
• Strengthening screening and selection criteria for capital investment projects
• Managing project readiness assessments for efficient execution planning
• Enhancing coordination between sectors for pipeline alignment

Module 12: Monitoring and Evaluation of Investments

• Developing monitoring systems to track public investment performance and outcomes
• Applying evaluation frameworks to assess project effectiveness and impact
• Strengthening feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement in investment planning
• Using data analytics for real-time investment performance tracking

Module 13: Climate and Environmental Risk Integration

• Incorporating climate risk considerations into public investment decision-making
• Assessing environmental impacts of infrastructure and capital projects
• Strengthening resilience of investment portfolios against climate shocks
• Aligning investments with sustainable development and green finance principles

Module 14: Institutional Coordination and Governance Reform

• Improving coordination between finance, planning, and sector ministries in investment management
• Strengthening institutional frameworks for integrated decision-making
• Addressing fragmentation in public investment governance systems
• Enhancing leadership capacity for investment reform implementation

Module 15: Fiscal Shock Management and Contingency Planning

• Identifying fiscal shocks and their implications for investment programs
• Designing contingency plans to manage revenue and expenditure volatility
• Strengthening resilience of investment portfolios during economic downturns
• Enhancing adaptive fiscal management strategies for uncertainty

Module 16: Reforming Public Investment Systems

• Designing institutional reforms to improve efficiency in public investment management
• Strengthening transparency and accountability in investment processes
• Leveraging digital tools for improved investment planning and monitoring
• Building long-term capacity for sustainable public investment governance  

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 a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

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

Airport pickup and 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.