The Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations Network (APMON) is a network of non-governmental organizations and coalitions of civil society organizations that engage and monitor parliaments across the Continent, seeking to enhance parliamentary transparency across national, sub-national and transnational legislative bodies in Africa. With support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), APMON is launching the “Civil Society- Public Finance Management (PFM) e-Course” for parliamentary monitoring organizations to strengthen their understanding and advocacy on parliaments’ role in PFM, debt transparency and accountability.
APMON is calling for applications from parliamentary monitoring organizations, civil society organizations, and public finance advocates from Africa to enroll for this interactive course.
This free online course seeks to enhance the understanding and skills of civil society PMOs across Africa to track and develop strategic advocacies for effective parliamentary management of the PFM processes, after successfully completing this interactive and comprehensive training course.
The Civil Society-PFM E-course is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of Public Financial Management (PFM) and the critical role of Parliament and CSOs in this process. The course begins with an introduction to the PFM system, emphasizing the formal role of Parliament in scrutinizing and authorizing budget proposals and holding the executive accountable. It highlights the entry points for CSO engagement, focusing on building skills and exploring the interaction between Parliament and CSOs throughout the budget cycle.
Through this structured approach, this course aims to enhance the collaboration between Parliament and CSOs, fostering a more accountable and transparent governance framework.
What will you learn?
At the end of the course, participants attending the course will be able to:
- Understand the critical role parliament plays in ensuring effective oversight of public finance;
- Learn from hands-on examples and experiences on working with parliament on PFM;
- Identify opportunities to engage their national and sub-national parliament on PFM; and
- Obtain knowledge of the assessment tools and frameworks for monitoring and tracking PFM.
Participant expectations
As a participant, the following are expected of you during the course:
- Actively participate in discussions, webinars, and group activities.
- Complete and submit all assignments and case studies by the due date.
- Propose a mini-project/initiative to engage your parliament on public finance.
- Collaborate with fellow participants on group projects and discussions.
- Implement and apply the concepts and practices learned in their respective organizations.
- Provide feedback on course content and structure to help improve future iterations.
Why should you take this course?
This course is made for you if you want to:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of public finance management tailored to the needs of CSOs;
- Networking with fellow professionals and world-class experts in the field of public finance;
- Receive a shareable certificate upon completion to enhance your professional credentials; and
- Receive free direct engagement and/or support on projects and activities on PFM.
Who can apply to join the course?
This free online course is designed specifically to serve the needs of civil society organizations, development practitioners, public finance management experts and anybody who works with parliament on PFM.
What is the course outline?
This course is structured into five modules and a mini module, each designed to guide participants through a comprehensive learning journey on Public Financial Management (PFM) and the critical role of Parliament and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in this process.
At the end of each module, participants will engage in a series of activities to reinforce and expand their understanding.
- Module 1: Introduction – Get an essential overview of PFM and the entire budget cycle, setting the stage for everything to come.
- Module 2: Budget Formulation – Dive into Parliament’s pivotal role in shaping budgets and explore how CSOs can effectively engage in this critical stage.
- Module 3: Budget Approval – Understand Parliament’s powers and responsibilities during the budget approval process, and discover key opportunities for CSOs to influence decisions.
- Module 4: Budget Execution and Oversight – Learn how budgets are executed and monitored, with a focus on holding governments accountable through oversight mechanisms.
- Module 5: Public Debt – Unravel the complexities of public debt, and equip yourself with advocacy tools to engage in debt transparency and management.
- Mini-Module 6: Agenda for Action – Identify your advocacy priorities and craft actionable strategies to influence parliamentary processes and drive meaningful change.
Please note that the course will take place online and you will need a device that allows you to watch videos, access course materials and upload assignments.
Certification
Upon completion, learners will receive a shareable certificate with a unique serial number which can either be downloaded or showcased on your professional online platforms.
To earn a Certificate of Achievement for this course, you need to earn more than 80% of possible points on quizzes and assignments to obtain a passing grade.
Course Features
- Lectures 42
- Quizzes 5
- Duration 6 weeks
- Skill level All levels
- Language English, French
- Students 82
- Certificate Yes
- Assessments Yes
Curriculum
- 6 Sections
- 42 Lessons
- 6 Weeks
- [Module 1] INTRODUCTION
Objectives
This module aims to introduce the course objectives, provide background on Public Financial Management, explore Parliament’s and CSOs’ roles in the budget process, and outline key PFM objectives and assessment tools.
8- 0.1SECTION 1.1 – INTRODUCTION
- 0.2SECTION 1.2 – OVERVIEW OF PFM
- 0.3SECTION 1.3 – THE BUDGET CYCLE
- 0.4SECTION 1.4 – PARLIAMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY’S ROLE IN THE BUDGET CYCLE
- 0.5SECTION 1.5 – GENDER RESPONSIVE BUDGETING
- 0.6SECTION 1.6 – SUMMARY
- 0.7SECTION 1.7 – CUMULATIVE MODULE 1 Quiz10 Minutes10 Questions
- 0.8ZOOM MEETING – Civil Society Public Finance Management e-Course2 Hours
- [Module 2] BUDGET FORMATION
Objectives
This module focuses on the rote of parliament and COs in budget formulation, highlighting strategic entry points for influencing budget decisions. It emphasizes early engagement in setting budget priorities and provides insights into how Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) can be incorporated into budget planning. By the end of this module, participants will have the tools to actively participate in budget formulation and advocate for inclusive, transparent fiscal policies.
10- 1.0OVERVIEW OF MODULES 2 AND 3: THE EX ANTE PHASE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE
- 1.1SECTION 2.1 – OVERVIEW: PARLIAMENT’S ROLE IN BUDGET FORMULATION
- 1.2EXERCISE 1 – The Pre-Budget Statement
- 1.3EXERCISE 2
- 1.4SECTION 2.2 – PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT METHODS: ENTRY POINTS FOR CSOS
- 1.5SECTION 2.3 – EX-ANTE GRB: PART 1: FORMULATION PHASE
- 1.6SECTION 2.4 – EXERCISE
- 1.7SECTION 2.5 – SUMMARY
- 1.8SECTION 2.6 – CUMULATIVE MODULE 2 QUIZ10 Minutes10 Questions
- 1.9ZOOM MEETING – Civil Society Public Finance Management e-Course2 Hours
- [Module 3] BUDGET APPROVAL
Objectives
In this module, we focus on the role parliament plays in the formulation of budgets and its approval; how to engage parliament on national budget and the various entry points CSOs can explore; and consider ex-ante gender-responsive budgeting.
10- 2.0OVERVIEW OF MODULE 3
- 2.1SECTION 3.1 – PARLIAMENT’S ROLE IN BUDGET APPROVAL
- 2.2EXERCISE 1 – EBP Vs. Citizens’ Budget
- 2.3SECTION 3.2 – PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT METHODS: ENTRY POINTS FOR CSOS
- 2.4EXERCISE 2 – Entry Points for Public Participation in the Approval Process
- 2.5SECTION 3.3 – EX-ANTE GRB
- 2.6SECTION 3.4 – EXERCISE 3: APPEARING BEFORE A SECTORAL COMMITTEE
- 2.7SECTION 3.5 – SUMMARY
- 2.8SECTION 3.6 – CUMULATIVE MODULE 2 QUIZ10 Minutes10 Questions
- 2.9ZOOM MEETING – Civil Society Public Finance Management e-Course2 Hours
- [Module 4] EXECUTION & EX-POST OVERSIGHT
Objectives
This module explores the role of parliament during the budget execution and audit/oversight phases, highlighting opportunities for civil society engagement. It provides practical tools for CSOs to influence budget implementation and promotes a deeper understanding of gender-responsive budgeting within these stages.
7- 3.0OVERVIEW OF MODULE 4
- 3.1SECTION 4.1 – PARLIAMENT’S ROLE IN BUDGET EXECUTION & AUDIT/OVERSIGHT PHASES
- 3.2SECTION 4.2 – EXERCISE: PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
- 3.3SECTION 4.3 – PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT METHODS: ENTRY POINTS FOR CSOS IN THE EX-POST GRB
- 3.4SECTION 4.4 – EXERCISE
- 3.5SECTION 4.5 – SUMMARY
- 3.6CUMULATIVE MODULE 4 QUIZ10 Minutes8 Questions
- [MODULE 5] PUBLIC DEBT
Objectives
This final module focuses on public debt management and explores how parliament and CSOs can influence debt-related decisions. It emphasizes the importance of gender perspectives in debt management and provides key questions for advocacy and oversight, equipping participants with the knowledge to engage effectively on public debt issues.
11- 4.0OVERVIEW OF SECTIONS IN MODULE 5
- 4.1SECTION 5.1 – OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC DEBT
- 4.2SECTION 5.2 – OVERVIEW OF THE DEBT MANAGEMENT UNIVERSE
- 4.3SECTION 5.3 – CIVIL SOCIETY AND PARLIAMENT: ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND PUBLIC DEBT
- 4.4SECTION 5.3 – MODULE 5 EXERCISE 1
- 4.5SECTION 5.4 – KEY QUESTIONS FOR CSOS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS ON PUBLIC DEBT MANAGEMENT
- 4.6SECTION 5.5 – INCORPORATING INTERSECTIONALITY AND A GENDER LENS INTO PUBLIC DEBT CONSIDERATIONS
- 4.7SECTION 5.6 – MODULE 5 EXERCISE
- 4.8SECTION 5.7 – SUMMARY
- 4.9SECTION 5.8 – CUMULATIVE MODULE 5 QUIZ10 Minutes15 Questions
- 4.10ZOOM MEETING – Civil Society Public Finance Management e-Course60 Minutes
- [MINI MODULE 6]
Summary
This module focuses on how participants can leverage their learning from previous modules to develop actionable initiatives in public financial management oversight. The module emphasizes the importance of collaboration among civil society organizations (CSOs) and the need to identify entry points within their respective countries' budget processes. Key themes include enhancing public participation, understanding institutional capacities, and strengthening audit oversight. Additionally, the module also highlights the significance of data utilization and continuous engagement with state institutions to improve accountability and transparency in budget management.
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