Covers issues such as macroeconomic stability, fiscal policy, economic growth, public debt, public finance management (including procurement), financial accountability and their practical implications for development programmes (in particular budget support operations but also technical cooperation projects).  

There hands of men with documents, tablet and calculator

Budget Support

    This e-Learning course introduces the basic concepts of EU budget support in line with the policy set out in the Budget Support Communication (2011) and detailed in the EU Budget Support Guidelines (2017, updated version)

    Duration: 3 hours

    Budget Support Guidelines

      The updated 2017 budget support guidelines incorporated the new policy context, lessons learned and strengthened guidance notably on policy dialogue and domestic revenue mobilisation, while streamlining reporting requirements. Budget support involves direct financial transfers to the national treasury of the partner country – conditional on policy dialogue, performance assessment and capacity building. This is a way of fostering partner countries' ownership of development policies and reforms, focusing on results for people and sustainable development.


      Tools and Methods Series, Guidelines No 7

      Version September, 2017

      Also available in French Spanish Portuguese



      Budget support in specific sectors

        Budget support assists partner countries in the implementation of their policies with transfers to the national treasury, policy dialogue, performance assessment and capacity building. The objective of these documents is to provide methodological and operational assistance to EU Delegations with a view to supporting the identification, formulation and implementation of sector budget support operations in the different fields.

        Duration: 3h

        Procurement as a policy tool (part A) and procurement under conditions of emergency (part B)

          Public procurement can be used as a strategic economic development tool. Indeed, procurement is not only a business process but also a policy tool for local enterprise development and job creation. The training consists of concise packages (90 minutes each) to understand the basics of public procurement in general (particularly procurement systems as policy tool) and responses to emergencies (like the COVID-19) in particular.


          Duration: 4.5 hours

          Promoting civil society participation in policy and budget processes

            The purpose of this reference document is to provide guidance on how to promote the participation of civil society in domestic policy and budget processes. The document focuses on both national and local levels, with a view to identifying entry points for EU support in terms of policy dialogue and operational support.


            Tools and Methods Series, Reference Document No 18

            Version May, 2014


            What is Budget Support

              Budget Support is a method favoured by the European Commission for its sustainability, based on partnership, country ownership, trust and results. To strengthen these, the EU had updated and simplified its Budget Support Guidelines.

              Duration: 10 min


              To read the updated Budget Support Guidelines click here

              Also available in French Spanish