10 Topics
5 Days
49 Sessions
Programme Overview
Training Description
• Performance Auditors and Value for Money Auditors
• Internal Auditors in Transport, Roads, Rail, Ports and Aviation Agencies
• External and Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) Auditors
• Infrastructure Project Managers and Engineers
• Procurement and Contract Management Officers
• Finance and Accounts Officers in Public Works and Transport Agencies
• Monitoring and Evaluation Officers
• Risk Management and Governance Officers
• Members of Audit and Project Steering Committees
Session Objectives
- • Understand the principles, standards (including INTOSAI ISSAI 300 series) and 3E/4E framework — Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness and Equity — underpinning Value for Money and performance auditing of transportation infrastructure.
- • Plan and design a risk-based VFM audit of a road, rail, port or aviation infrastructure project, from scoping and criteria-setting through to audit design matrices.
- • Evaluate project appraisal, procurement and contract award decisions for their impact on value for money outcomes.
- • Audit cost, schedule and quality performance across the construction lifecycle, including variations, delays and defects.
- • Assess asset management, maintenance and life-cycle sustainability of completed infrastructure, using data analytics and performance indicators to detect inefficiency, waste and red flags of mismanagement.
- • Develop well-evidenced findings and practical recommendations and communicate and follow up on VFM audit results with accounting officers, boards and oversight bodies.
About the Course
Transportation infrastructure roads, bridges, rail, ports and airports absorb some of the largest shares of public and development-partner capital expenditure and is consequently exposed to significant risk of cost overruns, delays, poor workmanship and diminished public benefit. This comprehensive training course on Value for Money (VFM) & Performance Auditing in Transportation Infrastructure equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to assess whether infrastructure investments achieve economy, efficiency and effectiveness across their full lifecycle. Participants will learn how to plan and execute risk-based performance audits, evaluate project appraisal and procurement decisions, assess cost, schedule and quality performance, and develop credible, evidence-based findings and recommendations. The course bridges audit methodology and sector-specific technical knowledge, enabling participants to add real assurance value to transportation infrastructure programs.
Curriculum & Topics
10 Topics | 49 Sessions
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Workshop 1.1:
• Nature and purpose of performance auditing; distinguishing it from financial and compliance audits.
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Workshop 1.2:
• The 3E/4E framework: Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness and Equity.
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Workshop 1.3:
• International standards and guidance: INTOSAI ISSAI 300, ISSAI 3000 series, and national Auditor-General mandates.
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Workshop 1.4:
• The public accountability case for VFM auditing in capital-intensive transportation infrastructure.
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Workshop 1.5:
• Roles of Supreme Audit Institutions, internal audit functions and oversight committees.
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Workshop 2.1:
• Overview of the project lifecycle: planning, appraisal, design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation.
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Workshop 2.2:
• Key sector characteristics: roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports and mass transit systems.
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Workshop 2.3:
• Institutional and regulatory framework governing transportation infrastructure delivery.
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Workshop 2.4:
• Identifying where value is created, and where it typically leaks, across the lifecycle.
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Workshop 2.5:
• Mapping stakeholders, funding sources (public budget, PPPs, development partners) and accountability lines.
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Workshop 3.1:
• Defining audit objectives, scope, subject matter and audit criteria.
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Workshop 3.2:
• Conducting a preliminary study and risk assessment of the entity or project.
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Workshop 3.3:
• Developing the audit design matrix: objectives, criteria, evidence sources and methodology.
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Workshop 3.4:
• Selecting audit approaches: system-based, results-based, problem-based and case study designs. • Sampling strategies, data requirements and audit team resourcing.
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Workshop 4.1:
• Evaluating feasibility studies, technical designs and site investigations.
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Workshop 4.2:
• Assessing cost-benefit analysis, economic and financial appraisal methodologies.
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Workshop 4.3:
• Reviewing demand forecasting, traffic/passenger projections and risk assumptions.
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Workshop 4.4:
• Auditing project selection, prioritisation and alignment with national and sector transport plans.
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Workshop 4.5:
• Common weaknesses: optimism bias, strategic misrepresentation and inadequate alternatives analysis.
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Workshop 5.1:
• Assessing procurement strategy, packaging and method selection for infrastructure works.
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Workshop 5.2:
• Evaluating tender specifications, bid evaluation and contract award decisions for economy and fairness.
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Workshop 5.3:
• Auditing engineering estimates, bill of quantities and pricing reasonableness.
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Workshop 5.4:
• Reviewing contract types (unit price, lump sum, EPC, PPP/concession) and risk allocation.
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Workshop 5.5:
• Identifying procurement red flags: bid-rigging, collusion, and restrictive specifications.
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Workshop 6.1:
• Analysing budget variance, cost overruns and their root causes.
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Workshop 6.2:
• Auditing variation orders, claims, extensions of time and change control processes.
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Workshop 6.3:
• Assessing project scheduling tools, critical path analysis and delay attribution.
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Workshop 6.4:
• Evaluating the effectiveness of project monitoring, reporting and early-warning systems.
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Workshop 6.5:
• Benchmarking cost and time performance against comparable projects and sector norms.
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Workshop 7.1:
• Reviewing supervision, quality assurance and materials testing regimes.
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Workshop 7.2:
• Auditing certification of works, milestone payments and interim/final valuations.
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Workshop 7.3:
• Assessing defects liability, performance security and retention money management.
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Workshop 7.4:
• Evaluating contractor and consultant performance management practices.
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Workshop 7.5:
• Site verification techniques and physical inspection considerations for auditors.
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Workshop 8.1:
• Evaluating handover, commissioning and asset registration processes.
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Workshop 8.2:
• Assessing maintenance planning, funding adequacy and life-cycle cost management.
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Workshop 8.3:
• Auditing utilisation, capacity and service-level performance of completed infrastructure.
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Workshop 8.4:
• Environmental, social and climate-resilience considerations in transportation infrastructure.
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Workshop 8.5:
• Evaluating sustainability of outcomes and risk of premature asset deterioration.
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Workshop 9.1:
• Selecting and constructing key performance indicators for infrastructure delivery.
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Workshop 9.2:
• Using data analytics to detect cost, schedule and quality anomalies.
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Workshop 9.3:
• Benchmarking techniques: peer comparison, trend analysis and unit-cost analysis.
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Workshop 9.4:
• Leveraging GIS, project management systems and e-procurement data as audit evidence.
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Workshop 9.5:
• Continuous auditing and dashboard-based performance monitoring approaches.
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Workshop 10.1:
• Developing well-evidenced findings, root-cause analysis and impact quantification.
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Workshop 10.2:
• Structuring persuasive, decision-useful VFM audit reports for diverse audiences.
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Workshop 10.3:
• Communicating findings to accounting officers, boards, oversight bodies and the public.
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Workshop 10.4:
• Formulating SMART, practical recommendations that are implementable.
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Workshop 10.5:
• Designing follow-up frameworks to track remediation and measure improved value for money.
