Civil Society Public Finance Management

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.