Infrastructure spending across Africa relies heavily on standard forms published by FIDIC, and many publicly funded and development partner projects require them. Yet the forms only work when parties follow the procedures they set out. Strict notice periods, the Engineer's determination role and detailed claim requirements catch out experienced managers who rely on informal site practice.

This executive programme provides a complete walk through contract administration from award to final account. Participants begin with the architecture of the standard forms, the differences between the Red, Yellow and Silver Books, and how particular conditions change the default position. They then follow the life of a project: commencement and programme, instructions and variations, unforeseen conditions, delays, extension of time, loss and expense, payment applications and certificates, completion and defects.

Later sessions focus on managing claims strategically, protecting entitlement through records, negotiating settlements, and using dispute avoidance and adjudication before arbitration. Teaching relies on clause-based case problems, sample correspondence and simulated contract meetings. Participants finish with a contract administration checklist and a notice and claim log adapted to their own projects.

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Compare the FIDIC Red, Yellow and Silver Books and their allocation of risk.
• Define the roles and powers of the Employer, Engineer and Contractor.
• Prepare and respond to notices within contractual time limits.
• Assess and value variations and instructions.
• Evaluate delay events and prepare or review extension of time and cost claims.
• Process payment applications, certificates, retention and securities.
• Manage taking-over, defects liability and final account.
• Apply dispute avoidance, adjudication and arbitration provisions.

The programme is targeted at senior and experienced staff involved in major works contracts, including:

• Project directors and project managers
• Contract managers and contract administrators
• Quantity surveyors and cost managers
• Resident and supervising engineers
• Legal counsel and contract lawyers
• Procurement and tender committee members
• Officials of roads, water, energy and public works agencies
• Staff of donor-funded project implementation units
• Contractor commercial and claims managers

Participants leave with:

• A clause map linking FIDIC provisions to everyday project events.
• A notice and claim register with deadlines for tracking entitlement.
• Sample wording for notices, instructions and determinations.
• A method for checking the quality of a contractor's claim submission.
• A payment certification checklist.
• A strategy for avoiding disputes and escalating them in good time.

The sessions are clause-driven and case-based:

• Guided reading of key FIDIC clauses with practical commentary
• Worked claim and valuation problems in small groups
• Drafting of notices and determinations with feedback
• A simulated contract meeting with competing Employer and Contractor positions
• Review of anonymised project disputes and lessons learned

Vision Reach Global Consultancy awards a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion to delegates who attend the full programme and take part in the exercises and simulation.

The certificate documents professional development in contract administration and does not replace any legal qualification.