Abidjan: The IMF, with financial backing from the Governments of Japan and Germany and in cooperation with regional technical assistance centers (AFRITACs Central and West), has been at the forefront of organizing the Interregional Seminar on Public Investment Management (SEIGIP) in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa. The seminars took place in 2022, 2023, and are scheduled for 2025, gathering approximately 60 senior officials from 21 sub-Saharan African countries each time.
According to International Monetary Fund, the SEIGIP seminars have been instrumental in assessing the real impact of IMF capacity development and enhancing South-South cooperation. Each seminar has addressed critical issues pertinent to Public Investment Management (PIM), providing a platform for senior officials to discuss challenges and share successful practices. The first SEIGIP, held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on reaffirming the importance of sound legal and institutional frameworks and discussed methods for climate change-sensitive public investments.
The second edition of SEIGIP, hosted in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from May 30 to June 1, 2023, delved into PIM reforms, emphasizing project appraisal, budgeting and execution, asset management, and fiscal risks. This seminar underlined the significance of multiyear budgetary authorizations and the hierarchical management of public assets. It also explored mapping fiscal risks and quantifying their impact.
The third edition, scheduled in Libreville, Gabon from April 28-30, 2025, plans to explore the upstream phases of the PIM cycle. It will focus on systematizing ex-ante evaluations to enhance project selection and digitalizing PIM's macro-processes. Participants will also discuss integrating criteria specific to public-private partnerships and aligning PIM information systems with budgetary information systems.
The successive SEIGIPs highlight the effectiveness of long-term technical assistance and knowledge exchange among national experts. Many participants have attended multiple editions, reflecting a growing understanding of complex subjects thanks to ongoing technical assistance. Country experiences and practical exercises have been key components, fostering debate and building a collective dynamic among participants.
Feedback from SEIGIP 3 indicates a high level of satisfaction, with 97.7% of participants believing they can apply the acquired skills, and nearly all participants appreciating the seminar's content. The seminar format, now stabilized, has been well-received, with calls for extending its duration to allow for more in-depth practical exercises and training.
Looking ahead, SEIGIP 4 is scheduled for January 26-30, 2026, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, with plans to enhance the seminar's duration and incorporate the dissemination of best practices through texts and manuals. This continued effort aims to consolidate the momentum and further strengthen Public Investment Management across Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa.