Course description

THE WORKSHOP
Successful public sector projects require more than approved budgets and defined completion dates. They depend on clear scope, realistic plans, reliable cost estimates, coordinated implementation, and timely responses to emerging risks. 
The Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Management Workshop is designed to develop the capabilities of officials responsible for planning, coordinating, financing, supervising, and monitoring public sector projects. The workshop examines how project requirements can be translated into achievable activities, realistic timelines, and credible budgets, supported by clear responsibilities and effective control procedures.
Through expert-led sessions, practical exercises, and case studies, participants will examine common causes of project underperformance and develop approaches to preventing and addressing them. The workshop will equip officials to assess project feasibility, establish realistic delivery baselines, interpret performance information, and recommend timely corrective action. It will also promote closer coordination among project, planning, procurement, finance, and technical teams to support accountable use of public resources and reliable delivery of project outcomes.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
explain the principles of project planning, scheduling, and cost management within public sector delivery;
define project scope, deliverables, and work breakdown structures aligned with institutional objectives;
develop realistic schedules using activity sequencing, duration estimates, resource requirements, and critical path analysis;
prepare cost estimates and project budgets that reflect implementation requirements, contingencies, and funding availability;
assess project risks and develop responses to potential delays, cost overruns, and delivery challenges;
apply performance control techniques to monitor progress, analyze schedule and cost variances, and recommend corrective action; and
develop procedures for managing project changes and reporting performance to management and relevant oversight bodies.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Directors, Heads, and Officers of Projects and Program
Project Managers and Project Coordinators
Planning, Research and Statistics Officers
Engineers, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, and Works Officers
Budget, Finance, and Cost Control Officers
Procurement and Contract Management Officers
Monitoring and Evaluation Officers
Infrastructure, Capital Projects, and Maintenance Managers
Senior and Middle-Level Officials responsible for project implementation and oversight
Members of Project Implementation Teams in Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Government Authorities

Organizational Benefits of Participation 
Through this program, organizations will: 
More Realistic Project Plans: Clearer scope, deliverables, responsibilities, and resource requirements aligned with institutional priorities.
Improved Schedule Reliability: Better activity sequencing and identification of critical tasks to reduce avoidable delays.
More Credible Project Budgets: Better cost estimates, contingency provisions, and cash flow forecasts to support funding decisions.
Stronger Cost Control: Earlier identification of expenditure variances and potential overruns, enabling timely corrective action.
Better Risk Preparedness: Systematic assessment and management of risks affecting project timelines, costs, and outcomes.
Improved Implementation Coordination: Closer collaboration among project, technical, procurement, planning, and finance teams.
Greater Accountability: Clearer progress reporting, documented change approvals, and reliable records for management and oversight.
Better Public Project Outcomes: More consistent delivery of completed, usable projects that meet institutional needs and provide value for public expenditure.

Personal Benefits of Participation 
Through this program, participant will:
Improved Project Planning Skills: Build the ability to define scope, organize work packages, and prepare practical implementation plans.
Greater Scheduling Competence: Develop skills in activity sequencing, duration estimation, and critical path analysis.
Better Cost Estimation Skills: Improve your ability to prepare realistic project budgets, contingency provisions, and cash flow forecasts.
Stronger Risk Assessment Capability: Identify potential delivery challenges and develop appropriate response measures.
Enhanced Performance Analysis: Interpret project progress, assess schedule and cost variances, and recommend corrective action.
Greater Confidence in Managing Changes: Assess how proposed changes affect project scope, timelines, costs, and delivery commitments.
Clearer Project Reporting: Present reliable performance information to management, funding authorities, and oversight bodies.
Greater Workplace Contribution: Apply practical techniques to improve public project delivery and the accountable use of institutional resources.

What will i learn?

• Project Definition and Public Sector Delivery Requirements
• Project Planning and Work Breakdown Structures
• Project Scheduling and Critical Path Analysis
• Cost Estimation and Project Budget Development

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