BADEA and UNITAR Strengthen the Capacities of Uganda to Develop Public-Private Partnerships to Finance Infrastructure Delivery

29 July 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) conducted the training course on Development of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Uganda from 29 June to 10 July 2015 in Kampala (Uganda) in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda. The broad objective of the course is to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Uganda to utilize PPPs as a tool to foster private sector-led growth and to provide public infrastructure.

Minister of State for Investment of UgandaThe Honorable Ajedra Gabriel Gadison Aridru, Minister of State for Investment of Uganda, opened this two-week workshop which was directed by the senior PPP experts Dr. Carlo Federico Cattani and Dr. Charles Ndandiko.

During the first week the participants reviewed the key substantive issues in relation with the development and management of PPPs, examined the current PPP situation in Uganda, and discussed strategic planning, project finance, and risk management. The second week of the workshop was devoted to discussing Value for Money in PPPs and Public Sector Comparator (PSC), PPP procurement, and contract management and monitoring.

BADEA and UNITAR workshopThe participants gained valuable insights from visiting two flagship PPP infrastructure projects and from interacting with members of the management teams. The first field visit was to the Bujagali hydropower project which is the largest hydropower plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. The second field visit was to the Kalangala Island Infrastructure Services project which provides access to clean water, safe transportation, and reliable solar powered electricity to the island’s 7,000 inhabitants.

The highlights of the workshop included the lively, well-informed and instructive discussions, facilitated by the Course Directors Dr. Cattani and Dr. Ndandiko. These discussions allowed the fruitful exchange of ideas, experiences and opinions between participants and the opportunity to engage with the Course Directors and the invited high-level speakers. Among the speakers were

  • Ms. Beatrice Florence Ikilai, Acting Head and Director PPP Unit, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development of Uganda
  • Mr. Stéphane Gasne, Partner, Pinsent Mason International Law Firm, Paris
  • Ms. Jacqueline Wakhweya, Head of Private Sector Unit, USAID Uganda
  • H.E. Mr. Kristian Schmidt, Ambassador of the European Union to Uganda
  • H.E. Mr. Alphons Hennekens, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda
  • H.E. Dr. Peter Blomeyer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uganda

The course had very favourable reviews in the reaction survey conducted at its end. Of the surveyed participants, 100% indicated that they are satisfied with the course, and a vast majority indicated that they would recommend this workshop to a colleague with similar job responsibilities. Participants’ comments about the course were generally positive, testifying to the utility of the information and skills learned and the expertise and helpful facilitation of Dr. Cattani and Dr. Ndandiko and the invited speakers. Below are two comments received from participants.

“The course was very useful in meeting the needs of furthering my knowledge of development of PPPs”. 

Ms. Zeridah Zigiti, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda

“Overall, the support from BADEA and UNITAR has enabled a much enhanced understanding of PPPs for myself, and undoubtedly, the entire cohort”.

Mr. Michael Aliyo, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda

Twenty five (25) senior and middle level finance sector officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda and affiliated entities successfully completed this two-week training course which was sponsored by BADEA, and received a certificate of participation from BADEA and UNITAR at the end of the course.

Since 2013, BADEA and UNITAR have successfully trained over 100 senior and middle level African government officials from 38 countries through joint courses under their ongoing training partnership. Further courses in English, French and Portuguese are scheduled in 2015/2016. The next course on Microcredit in Africa for anglophone countries will take place in Arusha, Tanzania from 17 to 28 August 2015.

Group of participants and the experts with the BADEA representative Ms. Lubna Dafaalla

For more information about UNITAR’s Public Finance and Trade Programme please visit http://www.unitar.org/pft/.

For more information about the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) please visit http://www.badea.org/.

Photo 1: The Honorable Ajedra Gabriel Gadison Aridru, Minister of State for Investment of Uganda

Photo 2: The participants visiting one of the two flagship PPP infrastructure projects in Uganda

Photo 3: Group of participants and the experts with the BADEA representative Ms. Lubna Dafaalla

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