Contracting and managing consultants
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Online
Contracting and managing consultants
5 Outubro–13 Novembro 2026
This professional certification programme is part of the Diploma in public procurement management
***A limited number of partial fellowships is available for this course to participants with a proven interest in the topic.
Please inquire at least four weeks before the commencement’s date to get the opportunity to attend a Certification Programme organized by ITCILO***.
Apresentação do curso
This online certification programme takes you on a structured journey throughout all stages of contracting and managing consultancy services, with a focus on construction projects and infrastructure development.
In today’s rapidly evolving procurement landscape, consultancy services are central to the successful delivery of projects. Consultancy inputs, including design, engineering and supervision services, play a critical role across the entire project lifecycle, from project preparation to contract implementation and completion.
At the same time, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming procurement practices, increasingly supporting key procurement cycle stages, such as planning, evaluation and contract management.
This course addresses these developments by equipping you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to effectively contract and manage consultancy services in construction projects. It explores key questions, such as:
- What approaches, methods and arrangements are used for selecting consultants effectively?
- How do different types of consultancy contracts (including design and supervision services) operate in practice?
- How can procurement professionals design robust Terms of Reference, define appropriate evaluation criteria, and assess proposals in a structured and transparent manner?
- What are the key considerations in procuring and managing engineering, design and supervision services across construction project lifecycle?
- How is AI influencing procurement processes and consultancy, and how can AI-related tools and services be effectively used and procured?
- How can sustainability considerations be integrated into consultancy services for construction projects?
Perfil dos participantes
This course is designed for:
- National and international public procurement practitioners
- Procurement staff of national agencies
- Project directors and procurement staff involved in projects funded by International Financial Institutions (e.g. World Bank, regional development banks)
- Personnel from the United Nations, European Union and non-governmental organizations
- Professionals involved in financing, controlling, and monitoring procurement operations for consultancy services
The course is also relevant for staff of consulting firms and individual consultants, particularly:
- Engineers engaged in construction and supervision assignments
- Professionals interested in consultancy services for works
- Experts working at the intersection of procurement, digitalisation and AI
Why a certification programme on contracting and managing consultants?
Consultancy services are required at multiple stages of programme and project development. In an increasingly complex environment—characterised by large-scale infrastructure projects, evolving FIDIC practices, and growing sustainability and technological requirements—the effective procurement and management of consultancy services has become essential to ensuring quality, efficiency and value for money.
At the same time, rapid technological advancements, including digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are reshaping procurement processes. Such changes call for enhanced professional skills to ensure adaptability, informed decision-making and high-quality outcomes in the delivery of consultancy services. .
What will I be able to do?
You will be able to competently plan and carry out procurement management functions for contracting and managing consultancy services in accordance with recognised professional standards and international best practice, particularly MDBs and FIDIC procedures, ensuring value for money and quality of services.
Participants will also gain a foundational understanding of the potentials of digitalization and AI in procurement and contract management processes, as well as how to integrate sustainability considerations into consultancy assignments in a structured and effective manner.
What certification will I get as a successful candidate?
- You will obtain an ITCILO certificate of achievement once you have completed successfully the programme requirements
- This certificate will demonstrate that you possess the right knowledge, skills and attitudes to plan and execute the entire procurement process including contract management
- This certificate could be a first brick to build your future ITCILO Diploma in Procurement Management! https://www.itcilo.org/resources/diploma-public-procurement-management
Why should I join?
This course is delivered through distance learning and deployed on the ITCILO e-campus. It frees you from the classroom and gives you the flexibility to complete the learning modules at your own pace while still providing interaction with international experts and professionals.
What are the programme objectives?
At the end of the Programme, you will be able to:
- efficiently design contracting strategies for consultancy services,
- assess and mitigate procurement and contract management risks, including those related to construction projects
- competently prepare well-balanced procurement documents, including terms of reference for consultancy and supervision services
- set appropriate evaluation criteria for consultancy services, with a focus on quality-based selection and rated criteria
- conduct proposal evaluation, contract award and contract administration procedures in line with international standards and FIDIC practices
- understand how to handle procurement-related complaints and ensure transparency of processes
- prepare contract management plans aligned with project objectives
- verify quality of deliverables, particularly in engineering consultancy and supervision services
- manage professional relationships with consulting firms and key stakeholders
- understand how to improve sustainability in consultancy services
- integrate innovation and AI in procurement processes
What does the programme contain?
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: INTRODUCTION
- Main principles
- Procurement Cycle
- What is consulting?
- Differences between Services and Goods
- Global view on consulting services
CONTRACTING STRATEGY AND PLANNING
- Contracting strategy and planning
- Selection Methods, Arrangements and Market Approaches
- Types of contracts
- KPI’s
- Sample Consulting Services Procurement Process
COST ESTIMATION FOR CONSULTING SERVICES
- Budget estimation fundamentals
- How to estimate budgets to procure services
- Cost categories for services
- TOR & budget
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
- M&E in procurement
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) for engineering and supervision services
- Monitoring consultancy outputs and deliverables in construction
- Use of data and tools to support performance tracking
STANDARD PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTS AND SELECTION PROCESS
- Development of Terms of Reference
- Advertising and shortlisting
- Setting evaluation criteria
- Request for proposals
- Forms and Conditions of Contracts
EVALUATION
- Submission of Technical and Financial proposals
- Evaluation of Proposals
- Opening of Financial Proposals and Combined Evaluation
- Negotiation and Award of Contract
- Hands on Expanded Implementation Support by the Bank and Complaints Management
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
- Introduction to Contract management
- Responsibilities and Key Risks
- Contract Administration and Management
- Relationship management
- Review by the Bank
SELECTION OF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS AS CONSULTANTS
- Selection methods and types of contracts applicable to selection of construction engineers as consultants
- Cost estimation for Supervision services
- Terms of reference for supervision
- Key aspects of conditions of contract to be included at RFP stage
- Qualification criteria suitable for selection of construction engineers as consultants
- Evaluation of technical proposals for supervision
- Key issues subject to negotiations with the selected consultant
- Contract management during construction project and distribution of responsibilities
SPECIAL TOPIC 1: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND AI
- Digital transformation and AI for consultancy services
- Role of AI across the lifecycle of construction consultancy (design, engineering, supervision)
- Specific AI tools supporting the procurement process
- Challenges and opportunities
SPECIAL TOPIC 2: INCLUSIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PROCUREMENT
- Introduction to Sustainable Development and Sustainable Public Procurement
- Gender Considerations in Procurement
- Promoting Innovation, Inclusiveness and Sustainability
What approach and methodology is used to deliver the online course?
This Certification Programme is delivered by senior procurement staff, advisors and consultants from ITCILO. The programme is conducted using interactive self-guided learning modules, knowledge checks, live webinars and final examination.
- For each module, you first acquire knowledge through an interactive self-guided learning module that contains readings, questions, quizzes, case studies, videos, lectures and tools
- You will be required to take knowledge tests after each module and throughout the course to ensure that you have grasped the core elements of the learning modules
- Your acquired skills will be assessed through the assignments graded by your tutor
- Live webinars with the experts will be conducted as follows: 1 introductory and other 4 webinars to respond to your questions and provide feedback or additional content.
The tutor is available for consultation via the e-campus forum or “Talk to your Tutor” mailbox and throughout the webinars.
Conditions to participate
WHAT ARE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS NEEDED?
For a smooth learning experience, participants need to have basic computer skills and a computer with a reliable internet connection and speakers.
Candidates are expected to have previous experience in public procurement practice as well as a sound knowledge of the English language.
The main reason I chose to follow the training is to add value to my professionalism and become even more specialized in what I’m doing every day. It helped me to understand a lot of processes.
Elvira Agovi
Project administrator/Procurement officer
After having taken this course, I feel confident when I carry out procurement management functions for the selection and recruitment of consultants. Now I can professionally process the selection of consultants in accordance with the standards of best practice.
Lin Lin Oo
Senior Operations Officer, ILO Yangon
