Public Financial Management (PFM) Training Course

This course equips participants with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in planning, managing, monitoring, and controlling public financial resources effectively. It focuses on budgeting, public expenditure management, revenue administration, financial accountability, procurement, auditing, and fiscal governance within public sector institutions. Participants will learn how to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public funds and resources.

Target Groups

• Government finance and accounting officers
• Budget and planning officers
• Public sector administrators and managers
• Internal auditors and compliance officers
• Procurement and supply chain professionals
• NGO and donor-funded project staff
• Policy makers and public administrators
• Students and professionals in public finance and governance

Course Objectives

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

• Understand principles and frameworks of public financial management
• Prepare and manage public sector budgets effectively
• Strengthen financial accountability and transparency
• Apply public expenditure and revenue management practices
• Improve financial reporting and fiscal control systems
• Understand procurement and public resource allocation processes
• Enhance compliance with public finance regulations
• Manage risks and internal controls in public institutions
• Support efficient utilization of public resources
• Promote good governance and fiscal sustainability

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Public Financial Management

• Definition and importance of public financial management
• Objectives and functions of PFM systems
• Components of public financial management
• Public finance legal and institutional frameworks
• Principles of fiscal governance and accountability

Module 2: Public Sector Budgeting and Planning

• Budget preparation processes
• Medium-term expenditure frameworks (MTEF)
• Program-based and performance-based budgeting
• Budget allocation and prioritization
• Linking budgets to development plans

Module 3: Public Revenue Management

• Sources of government revenue
• Taxation principles and administration
• Non-tax revenue management
• Revenue forecasting techniques
• Challenges in public revenue collection

Module 4: Public Expenditure Management

• Principles of public expenditure management
• Expenditure control mechanisms
• Cash flow and treasury management
• Monitoring public spending
• Reducing wastage and inefficiencies

Module 5: Financial Reporting and Accountability

• Public sector financial reporting standards
• Preparation of financial statements
• Accountability mechanisms in public finance
• Financial disclosure and transparency
• Reporting requirements for public institutions

Module 6: Procurement and Public Resource Management

• Public procurement principles and regulations
• Procurement planning and procedures
• Supplier management and contract administration
• Ethical procurement practices
• Managing public assets and resources

Module 7: Internal Controls and Risk Management

• Internal control systems in public institutions
• Risk identification and assessment
• Fraud prevention and detection
• Compliance monitoring mechanisms
• Strengthening governance and oversight

Module 8: Public Sector Auditing and Oversight

• Role of internal and external audits
• Audit processes and procedures
• Audit reporting and recommendations
• Parliamentary and institutional oversight
• Enhancing accountability through audits

Module 9: Fiscal Policy and Financial Sustainability

• Understanding fiscal policy frameworks
• Public debt management principles
• Fiscal discipline and sustainability
• Managing economic and financial risks
• Impact of fiscal policy on development

Module 10: Capstone Project and Case Studies

• Analysis of real-world public financial management systems
• Case studies on public finance successes and failures
• Group exercises on budgeting and expenditure tracking
• Simulated public financial accountability scenarios
• Emerging trends in public financial management, including digital treasury systems, integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS), AI-driven financial analytics, and e-procurement platforms