In the dynamic and evolving landscape of public service delivery, meticulously crafted PPP Policy Design and Reform is the strategic cornerstone for governments seeking to effectively leverage private sector capabilities, mobilize significant investment, and enhance the efficiency and quality of public infrastructure and services. A well-articulated PPP policy provides the overarching vision, principles, and strategic direction, guiding all stakeholders, mitigating risks, and fostering a predictable and attractive environment for sustainable Public-Private Partnerships. This comprehensive training course is meticulously designed to equip public sector officials, policy makers, PPP unit professionals, and legal advisors with the advanced knowledge and practical strategies required to understand, develop, implement, and reform robust PPP policies that align with national development goals, promote value for money, and ensure long-term project success. Without robust expertise in PPP Policy Design and Reform, governments risk ad-hoc project selection, inconsistent implementation, and a failure to harness the full potential of private sector engagement, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Public Sector Officials from Ministries of Finance, Planning, Infrastructure, and Sectoral Ministries
• Senior Policy Makers and Advisors in Government
• PPP Unit Directors and Senior Professionals
• Legal Drafters and Legislative Reform Specialists
• Economists and Financial Analysts in Public Service
• Heads of Public Procurement Agencies
• Representatives from Central Banks and Regulatory Authorities
• Local Government Policy Makers
• Consultants advising governments on PPP policy and institutional reforms
• Anyone involved in the strategic planning, development, or reform of national PPP programs.

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental rationale and objectives of a national PPP policy.
• Learn about the key components and principles of effective PPP policy design.
• Acquire skills in conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing PPP policies.
• Comprehend techniques for aligning PPP policy with national development strategies and fiscal targets.
• Explore strategies for defining the scope and eligible sectors for PPPs.
• Understand the importance of ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance in policy.
• Gain insights into managing fiscal commitments and contingent liabilities through policy.
• Develop a practical understanding of risk allocation principles in PPP policy.
• Master the role of stakeholder engagement in policy formulation and reform.
• Acquire skills in drafting clear, concise, and implementable PPP policy documents.
• Learn to apply international best practices and lessons learned from successful policy reforms.
• Comprehend techniques for designing a robust project appraisal and approval process.
• Explore strategies for fostering an attractive investment climate through policy.
• Understand the importance of monitoring and evaluating policy effectiveness over time.
• Develop the ability to lead and implement impactful PPP Policy Design and Reform initiatives.

Course Content

Module 1: Rationale and Objectives of PPP Policy

• Why a dedicated PPP policy is necessary for governments.
• Core objectives: attracting private capital, improving efficiency, enhancing service quality, risk transfer.
• Aligning PPP policy with national development plans, Vision 2030, SDGs.
• The role of policy in creating a predictable and enabling environment.
• Consequences of an absent or weak PPP policy.

Module 2: Key Principles of Sound PPP Policy Design

• Value for Money (VfM) as a central principle.
• Affordability and fiscal sustainability.
• Transparency and accountability.
• Fair and efficient risk allocation.
• Competition and private sector participation.
• Public interest protection and service quality.

Module 3: Scope and Coverage of PPP Policy

• Defining what constitutes a "PPP" for policy purposes.
• Identifying eligible sectors and types of projects.
• Policy on unsolicited proposals and direct negotiations.
• Thresholds for project size and complexity requiring PPP treatment.
• Policy on sub-national/local government PPPs.

Module 4: Institutional Roles and Responsibilities in Policy

• Defining the roles of key ministries (Finance, Planning, Sectoral).
• Mandate and functions of the central PPP Unit/Agency in policy implementation.
• Inter-agency coordination mechanisms for policy coherence.
• Role of Cabinet/Parliamentary approvals in policy and project lifecycle.
• Ensuring clear lines of authority and accountability.

Module 5: Project Selection and Appraisal Policy

• Policy on conducting robust feasibility studies and VfM assessments.
• Criteria for project prioritization and selection.
• Gateway approval processes and decision points.
• Integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations into appraisal.
• Policy on independent review and due diligence.

Module 6: Fiscal Management and Contingent Liabilities Policy

• Policy on identifying, quantifying, and managing fiscal commitments.
• Rules for accounting and reporting of contingent liabilities.
• Setting fiscal limits and budgetary ceilings for PPPs.
• Policy on government guarantees and other forms of financial support.
• Ensuring long-term fiscal affordability.

Module 7: Risk Allocation Policy

• Principles for efficient and equitable risk allocation.
• Policy on common risks in PPPs (e.g., construction, demand, regulatory, political).
• Guidelines for allocating risks to the party best able to manage them.
• Policy on risk mitigation measures and contractual remedies.
• Avoiding "gold-plating" or excessive risk transfer.

Module 8: Procurement Policy for PPPs

• Policy on competitive procurement methods (e.g., open tender, competitive dialogue).
• Rules for pre-qualification and bid evaluation.
• Policy on transparency in procurement processes.
• Addressing anti-corruption and integrity in bidding.
• Guidelines for contract award and financial close.

Module 9: Contract Management and Monitoring Policy

• Policy on post-award contract management and oversight.
• Guidelines for performance monitoring and reporting.
• Policy on managing contractual changes and renegotiations.
• Framework for dispute avoidance and resolution.
• Policy on asset handback and lifecycle management.

Module 10: Legal Framework Alignment and Reform

• Ensuring consistency between PPP policy and existing laws.
• Identifying areas requiring legislative reform to enable policy implementation.
• Policy on standardizing contractual terms and guidelines.
• Addressing legal certainty and enforceability.
• The iterative process of policy and legal reform.

Module 11: Stakeholder Engagement in Policy Design

• Identifying key stakeholders for policy consultation (private sector, civil society, public).
• Methods for effective stakeholder engagement in policy formulation.
• Incorporating feedback and addressing concerns.
• Building consensus and broad support for the PPP policy.
• Communicating policy objectives and benefits to the public.

Module 12: Policy for New and Emerging PPP Models

• Adapting policy for digital infrastructure, smart cities, and green PPPs.
• Policy considerations for climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Addressing social infrastructure PPPs (health, education, housing).
• Policy on innovative financing mechanisms and blended finance.
• Ensuring policy flexibility for future innovation.

Module 13: Monitoring and Evaluation of PPP Policy Effectiveness

• Developing indicators for policy success (e.g., number of projects, VfM achieved, fiscal impact).
• Establishing a framework for regular policy review and evaluation.
• Data collection and analysis for policy adjustments.
• Learning from experience and adapting policy over time.
• Role of independent policy reviews.

Module 14: International Best Practices in PPP Policy

• Review of PPP policies from leading countries and international organizations (e.g., World Bank, OECD).
• Analysis of successful policy reforms and their impact.
• Lessons learned from policy failures and unintended consequences.
• Comparative analysis of different policy approaches.
• Identifying transferable elements for different contexts.

Module 15: Practical Workshop: Designing/Reforming a PPP Policy

• In-depth analysis of a hypothetical country's current PPP policy challenges.
• Group exercise: Drafting key sections of a new or reformed PPP policy document.
• Discussion of policy dilemmas and trade-offs (e.g., VfM vs. affordability).
• Role-playing a policy consultation session with different stakeholder groups.
• Developing a roadmap for PPP policy implementation and reform.

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: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute 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, and buffet lunch.

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

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute 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: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.