Abidjan: The IMF, in collaboration with regional technical assistance centers (AFRITACs Central and West) and with financial support from the Governments of Japan and Germany, has organized three editions of the Interregional Seminar on Public Investment Management (SEIGIP) in 2022, 2023, and 2025. These seminars were aimed at assessing the real impact of IMF capacity development and the leverage that South-South cooperation represents, bringing together approximately 60 senior officials from 21 sub-Saharan African countries, mostly Francophone.
According to International Monetary Fund, the first SEIGIP addressed Public Investment Management (PIM) challenges within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The seminar focused on strengthening institutional frameworks by reaffirming the need for sound legal and institutional structures for effective PIM. Additionally, the seminar discussed methods for identifying and supporting climate change-sensitive public investments.
The second edition of SEIGIP took place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from May 30 to June 1, 2023. It continued to focus on PIM reforms by addressing a wide range of topics. Key issues discussed included project appraisal and selection, the link between budgeting and execution quality, asset management, and fiscal risks. This edition emphasized the importance of hierarchical and sustainable management of public assets, as well as mapping and quantifying fiscal risks.
Held in Libreville, Gabon, from April 28-30, 2025, the third SEIGIP delved deeper into the upstream phases of the PIM cycle. It highlighted the need to systematize ex-ante evaluation to improve project selection. The seminar also shared and deepened good practices for project selection, including strategic alignment, socioeconomic return, technical maturity, financial viability, and cross-cutting impacts. Additionally, it described the macro-processes for PIM digitalization and aligned its information system with the budgetary information system.
The successive SEIGIPs illustrate the value of a long-term exchange involving technical assistance providers and national experts. Many participants attended multiple editions, reflecting a growing mastery of the subjects. The seminars provided a platform for country experiences, generating debates based on questions, answers, and reactions. Practical exercises conducted in groups proved to be productive, fostering a collective dynamic and allowing participants to establish professional connections.
The format of SEIGIP has been stabilized and acclaimed, with 97.7% of participants in SEIGIP3 believing they will be able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired. Participants strongly agreed (60%) or agreed (40%) that the seminar content would enhance the quality of public investments. Satisfaction levels were high, with 95.6% expressing overall satisfaction and 91.1% appreciating the tutorials positively.
The momentum set in motion over the past three years needs to be consolidated, with areas for improvement identified. The duration of the SEIGIP could be extended to allow for more practical exercises and in-depth training. Dissemination of best practices, including texts and manuals, during the SEIGIP is also recommended. SEIGIP 4 is scheduled to take place from January 26 to 30, 2026, in Nouakchott, Mauritania.