Course Overview

This program equips policymakers, investment‑promotion agencies, and development practitioners with the tools to design, evaluate, and implement effective FDI policies that attract sustainable, responsible, and development‑enhancing foreign investment.

The course aligns with the World Bank Investment Policy and Promotion (IPP) Framework, IFC Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD), UNCTAD Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development, and global best practices for FDI attraction, facilitation, and retention.

Participants learn how to diagnose FDI constraints, design policy reforms, strengthen investment‑promotion systems, and align FDI with national development priorities.

2. Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of FDI in economic transformation and job creation.

• Diagnose FDI barriers using World Bank and UNCTAD tools.

• Design policies that attract high‑quality, sustainable foreign investment.

• Strengthen investment‑promotion and investor‑aftercare systems.

• Evaluate incentives, regulatory frameworks, and investment agreements.

• Promote linkages between foreign investors and domestic firms.

• Integrate FDI into national development and industrial strategies.

• Prepare FDI policy briefs aligned with World Bank standards.

3. Target Audience

• Ministries of Finance, Trade, and Economic Development

• Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs)

• Central banks and financial‑sector regulators

• Special Economic Zone (SEZ) authorities

• World Bank–funded project teams

• Private‑sector development specialists

• Researchers and consultants in investment policy

4. Detailed Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of FDI & Investment Policy

• Types of FDI: greenfield, brownfield, mergers & acquisitions

• Why FDI matters: growth, technology transfer, productivity, exports

• World Bank and UNCTAD frameworks for investment policy

• Global FDI trends and regional patterns

• Case studies from emerging and developing economies

Module 2: FDI Determinants & Investor Decision‑Making

• Macroeconomic stability and market size

• Infrastructure, skills, and logistics

• Regulatory quality and governance

• Political stability and investment protection

• Understanding investor motivations and sector preferences

Module 3: FDI Climate Diagnostics

• World Bank tools:

  • Investment Climate Assessment (ICA)

  • Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD)

  • Enterprise Surveys

• UNCTAD Investment Policy Framework

• Identifying regulatory, institutional, and market barriers

• Designing FDI climate reform programs

Module 4: Investment Promotion & Facilitation

• Role and functions of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs)

• Investor targeting and sector prioritization

• Investor facilitation and one‑stop‑shop models

• Aftercare services and grievance‑redress mechanisms

• Digital investment promotion

Module 5: FDI Incentives & Regulatory Frameworks

• Types of incentives: tax, financial, regulatory

• Evaluating cost‑effectiveness and risks of incentives

• Competition policy and market contestability

• Investment laws, licensing, and administrative procedures

• Transparency, predictability, and investor protection

Module 6: Special Economic Zones (SEZs) & Industrial Policy

• SEZ models and global best practices

• Industrial parks and cluster development

• Linking SEZs to national industrial strategies

• Governance, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks

• Case studies of successful SEZ‑driven FDI

Module 7: Sustainable, Responsible & Green FDI

• ESG standards and responsible investment

• Climate‑smart and green investment policies

• Gender‑responsive investment policies

• Social and environmental safeguards

• Aligning FDI with SDGs and national climate goals

Module 8: FDI Linkages, Spillovers & Local Enterprise Development

• Supplier development and local content policies

• Technology transfer and knowledge spillovers

• SME integration into global value chains

• Risks of weak linkage policies

• Designing effective linkage programs

Module 9: International Investment Agreements (IIAs) & Trade Policy

• Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs)

• Regional trade and investment agreements

• Investor‑state dispute settlement (ISDS)

• Balancing investor protection with policy space

• World Bank and UNCTAD guidance on treaty reform

Module 10: Practical Exercises & Capstone Project

• Conducting an FDI climate diagnostic

• Designing an investor‑targeting strategy

• Evaluating an FDI incentive package

• Preparing an FDI policy reform plan

• Capstone: Develop a National FDI Policy Framework for a simulated country

5. Training Methodology

• Expert‑led lectures and guided discussions

• Hands‑on diagnostics using World Bank and UNCTAD tools

• Case studies from IFC, World Bank, and global investment programs

• Group work and scenario‑based simulations

• Practical sessions on investment promotion, incentives, and linkage programs

• Capstone project with peer and instructor feedback

6. Deliverables & Outputs

Participants will receive:

• An FDI Policy & Promotion Toolkit (frameworks, templates, datasets)

• Investment climate diagnostic tools

• Incentive evaluation and investor‑targeting templates

• Capstone project report and presentation

• Certificate of Completion from Regewall Training Institute