Keypoints:
- More than 140 SADC officials will attend a regional public investment seminar
- Governments are under growing pressure to maximise limited public resources
- Evidence-based policymaking is gaining momentum across Southern Africa
AS governments across Southern Africa contend with rising debt, climate pressures and growing public expectations, more than 140 senior public officials will gather in Johannesburg from July 15 to 17 to examine how evidence-based policymaking can help deliver better results from increasingly constrained public budgets.
The regional training programme, organised by the Copenhagen Consensus Center, will bring together officials from ministries of finance, planning, education, health, agriculture and infrastructure, alongside representatives from central banks and other public institutions across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The workshop will focus on strengthening the use of cost-benefit analysis to guide public investment decisions.
Why this matters
The meeting reflects a broader shift in development thinking. Across Africa and beyond, policymakers are increasingly recognising that achieving stronger economic and social outcomes depends not only on mobilising additional funding but also on ensuring that every public investment delivers the greatest possible value.
International institutions, including the IMF and the World Bank, have consistently argued that improving the efficiency of public spending is becoming increasingly important as governments navigate tighter fiscal conditions, rising borrowing costs and expanding development needs. For many African countries, better investment choices may prove just as important as securing new sources of finance.
Fiscal pressures reshape policy priorities
Many SADC member states continue to face significant fiscal challenges. Public debt has risen across much of Sub-Saharan Africa since the Covid-19 pandemic, while governments are also responding to inflationary pressures, slower global economic growth and increasingly frequent climate-related disasters. At the same time, rapid urbanisation, population growth and expanding demand for healthcare, education and infrastructure continue to place additional pressure on national budgets.
These competing demands leave policymakers facing difficult decisions over where limited resources should be directed. Should governments prioritise new hospitals, improved teacher training, expanded irrigation systems, climate adaptation projects, transport infrastructure or energy investments? Each sector is vital to long-term development, yet few governments have the fiscal capacity to finance every worthwhile initiative simultaneously.
Spending smarter rather than spending more
For decades, development debates often focused on increasing government expenditure through higher revenues, concessional finance or international development assistance. Today, economists increasingly argue that the quality of public spending deserves equal attention.
Cost-benefit analysis has emerged as one of the principal tools used internationally to compare competing investment proposals. Rather than relying solely on historical spending patterns or political priorities, the approach seeks to estimate the likely economic and social returns generated by different policy options. Supporters argue that rigorous evaluation helps governments identify projects capable of delivering the strongest long-term benefits for citizens while improving transparency and accountability in public finance.
From classrooms to clinics
The practical application of evidence-based decision-making extends across multiple sectors. In education, governments are increasingly evaluating which interventions produce the greatest improvements in student learning, workforce skills and future productivity. Healthcare systems face the dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, requiring ministries to identify interventions that deliver the greatest health gains. Agriculture also remains central to many economies, with climate change intensifying the need for investments that strengthen food security and resilience.
Building stronger institutions
Beyond selecting individual projects, advocates argue that evidence-based policymaking can strengthen broader systems of public governance. Transparent economic evaluation enables governments to explain why particular investments receive priority over others, providing legislators, oversight bodies and citizens with a clearer understanding of how scarce public resources are allocated.
Regional learning for shared challenges
Many SADC member states face similar structural challenges, including infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, food insecurity and climate vulnerability. The Johannesburg seminar encourages policymakers to exchange experiences and strengthen public investment management through regional cooperation.
International momentum behind evidence-based policymaking
The World Bank has consistently argued that stronger public investment management is essential for improving infrastructure quality and supporting sustainable growth. Likewise, the IMF has encouraged governments facing constrained fiscal space to improve spending efficiency alongside efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and maintain debt sustainability. Development economists argue that better project selection can generate significant long-term gains by reducing waste and improving service delivery.
Evidence is only part of the equation
Although cost-benefit analysis is widely recognised as an important policymaking tool, experts caution that it cannot replace political leadership. Governments must also consider social inclusion, regional equity, environmental sustainability and national development priorities. Analysts recommend combining economic appraisal with transparent procurement, independent oversight and robust institutions.
Better decisions, stronger outcomes
Speaking ahead of the seminar, Dr Bjorn Lomborg, President of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, said: ‘Every government faces tough choices. The key question is not just how much we spend, but how wisely we spend it.’ Dr Ralph Nordjo, Head of the Africa Directorate at the organisation, added that better decisions are possible even without bigger budgets if governments focus on interventions that deliver the highest impact.
Looking beyond the seminar
Whether the Johannesburg training ultimately influences policymaking will depend on how effectively participating governments incorporate evidence-based appraisal into national planning and budgeting systems. As fiscal pressures continue to shape policy choices across the region, improving the quality of public investment decisions may prove just as important as attracting new funding. If the lessons are translated into policy, they could strengthen accountability, improve public services and ensure scarce resources generate the greatest benefit for citizens.
Dr Baboloki Semele is a youth and gender advocate and expert validator with the African Union’s High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET)
