Abidjan: The International Monetary Fund (IMF), with financial backing from the Governments of Japan and Germany and in cooperation with regional technical assistance centers (AFRITACs Central and West), has successfully organized three editions of the Interregional Seminar on Public Investment Management (SEIGIP) in 2022, 2023, and 2025 across Francophone sub-Saharan Africa.
According to International Monetary Fund, the seminars engaged approximately 60 senior officials from 21 sub-Saharan African countries, predominantly French-speaking, providing a platform to gauge the tangible impact of IMF's capacity development initiatives and the role of South-South cooperation. The inaugural SEIGIP addressed challenges in public investment management (PIM) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on reinforcing institutional frameworks and discussing climate change-sensitive investment projects.
The second installment of SEIGIP, held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from May 30 to June 1, 2023, expanded on PIM reforms by exploring various critical issues. Key topics included project appraisal and selection, budgeting and execution, asset management, and fiscal risks. The seminar highlighted the importance of multiyear budgetary authorizations and sustainable asset management practices.
The third SEIGIP, taking place in Libreville, Gabon, from April 28-30, 2025, delved into the upstream phases of the PIM cycle. It emphasized the need for systematic ex-ante evaluation to improve project selection and shared best practices for project selection, particularly in public-private partnerships. Additionally, the seminar discussed the digitalization of PIM processes to align with budgetary information systems.
The progressive complexity of discussions over the successive seminars underscores the sustained technical assistance from the IMF and its regional centers. Many participants attended multiple editions, indicating a deepening understanding of the topics. Country experiences sparked vibrant debates, while practical exercises facilitated consensus-building and professional networking among participants.
Feedback from SEIGIP3 participants revealed a strong endorsement of the seminar's content and format, with 97.7% expressing confidence in applying the acquired knowledge and skills. The seminars have been recognized for enhancing the quality of public investments, with an overwhelming majority satisfied with the content.
Looking ahead, there is a recognized need to continue building on the momentum by extending the seminar duration and disseminating best practices more broadly. The upcoming SEIGIP 4 is scheduled from January 26 to 30, 2026, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, aiming to further consolidate and expand the achievements of previous editions.