Project Feasibility Studies & Cost-Benefit Analysis Training Course

The Project Feasibility Studies & Cost-Benefit Analysis Training Course equips project sponsors, planners, analysts, finance professionals, and decision makers with the frameworks and practical tools needed to assess whether proposed projects and investments are viable, worthwhile, and aligned with organizational and public objectives. In government entities, ministries, public authorities, development agencies, banks, healthcare systems, energy and utility companies, infrastructure, industrial, and technology organizations, and large corporations, significant resources are committed on the basis of feasibility studies and business cases. The quality of these studies determines whether scarce funds are allocated to projects that deliver real value or to projects that later prove unaffordable, underused, or unsustainable. Many feasibility studies are weakened by predictable problems. Options may not be explored properly, with a preferred solution chosen before analysis begins, demand forecasts may be optimistic, capital costs may be underestimated and operating and lifecycle costs overlooked, and benefits may be overstated or difficult to verify. Financial and economic analyses may be confused, discount rates applied inconsistently, and risks and uncertainties addressed only superficially. Studies may also give insufficient attention to technical, operational, legal, environmental, and social feasibility, and final reports may not present a clear, balanced recommendation for decision makers. This course provides a structured and practical approach to project feasibility studies and cost-benefit analysis, informed by recognized international guidance on project appraisal and business case development. Participants learn the project appraisal lifecycle, the structure of a robust business case covering strategic, economic, commercial, financial, and management dimensions, and the key components of a feasibility study, including market and demand, technical, operational, legal and regulatory, environmental and social, organizational, and financial feasibility. The program covers options identification and appraisal, demand forecasting, capital, operating, and lifecycle cost estimation, and financial analysis using cash flows, the time value of money, net present value, internal rate of return, payback, profitability index, and appropriate discount rates. Participants then learn cost-benefit analysis from an economic and societal perspective, including identifying and monetizing benefits and costs, externalities, shadow prices, social discount rates, economic net present value and benefit-cost ratios, as well as cost-effectiveness analysis and multi-criteria analysis for benefits that are difficult to monetize. The course also addresses sensitivity and scenario analysis, break-even analysis, probabilistic risk analysis, adjustments for optimism bias, distributional and sustainability considerations, funding and financing options including public-private partnerships, writing clear feasibility reports, presenting recommendations, and planning for benefits realization and post-implementation review. The course is delivered through an interactive, application-focused approach with spreadsheet-based financial and economic models, case studies, and a feasibility study developed by participants throughout the five days. Participants leave with a feasibility study framework, an options appraisal matrix, a demand and cost estimation template, a financial analysis model, a cost-benefit analysis model, a sensitivity and risk analysis tool, and a feasibility report and business case template.