Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Articulate the core principles and models of public sector governance and accountability.
• Analyze the stages of the public policy lifecycle, from formulation to evaluation.
• Apply methods for risk management and internal control unique to public financial management.
• Design effective performance measurement systems for service delivery and policy outcomes.
• Understand the legal and ethical requirements for transparency and open government (e.g., FOIA).
• Develop strategies for successfully leading large-scale digital transformation in government.
• Evaluate policy options using cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis techniques.
• Implement effective stakeholder engagement and citizen participation in policy making.

• Government Officials and Civil Servants
• Public Policy Analysts and Advisors
• Leaders of Government Agencies and Non-Profits
• Public Financial Managers and Auditors
• Digital Transformation Leads in Public Sector
• Internal Auditors and Compliance Officers in Government
• Consultants specializing in Public Administration

• **Scenarios:** A new law is passed requiring digital-only service delivery; participants must develop a transformation governance plan and manage stakeholder resistance.
• **Case Studies:** Analyzing the failure of a major government IT project and identifying the specific governance and public procurement gaps.
• **Group Activities:** Collaboratively designing a performance measurement dashboard for a new public health policy initiative.
• **Individual Exercises:** Conducting a simplified cost-benefit analysis for a proposed public transport infrastructure project.
• **Mini-Case Studies:** Quick evaluation of a government agency's public communication strategy for its transparency and clarity.
• **Syndicate Discussions:** Debating the ethical implications of using advanced data analytics and predictive modeling in social policy implementation.
• **Policy Brief:** Drafting a concise brief for a Minister summarizing the pros and cons of two different policy options.

Unit 1: Principles of Public Governance

• Defining public sector governance and its difference from corporate governance.
• The role of democratic institutions, oversight bodies, and the legislature.
• Principles of public accountability, stewardship, and ethical conduct.
• Understanding the legal and operational mandates for transparency (e.g., Freedom of Information Acts).
• Strategies for fostering public trust and engagement in governance.

Unit 2: The Public Policy Lifecycle

• The stages of the policy cycle: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation.
• Techniques for policy analysis, including problem definition and option appraisal.
• The role of evidence-based policy making and data utilization in government.
• Understanding political dynamics and stakeholder influence in policy adoption.
• Designing effective implementation plans and managing bureaucratic challenges.

Unit 3: Public Financial Management and Risk

• Principles of public budgeting, expenditure control, and public debt management.
• Managing financial risks unique to the public sector (e.g., sovereign risk, political risk).
• Implementing effective internal controls and risk management in grant and program funding.
• Oversight of public procurement and anti-corruption measures in contracting.
• The importance of independent audit and evaluation functions.

Unit 4: Public Sector Digital Transformation

• Strategies for moving from paper-based to digital-first citizen services.
• The governance challenges of large-scale public IT projects and procurement.
• Ensuring data security, privacy, and ethical use of AI in government operations.
• Managing organizational change and skills gaps during digital transformation.
• Metrics and dashboards for measuring digital service adoption and satisfaction.

Unit 5: Performance and Policy Evaluation

• Developing performance frameworks and indicators for public service delivery.
• Methodologies for policy evaluation (formative, summative, impact assessment).
• Utilizing citizen satisfaction data and feedback for service improvement.
• The process of benchmarking public sector performance against international standards.
• Integrating lessons learned and evaluation findings back into the policy process.