Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis

The goals of the program are to develop the operational skills of participants so that they are able to:

• Plan and assess all aspects of investment projects;
• Add value through the redesign of projects;
• Prepare project financing agreements ;

Design strategies to address stakeholder concerns. As with previous programmes, it will be a two module programme carried out in June and September for 2006.

Project Appraisal of SME Credits

This programme is aimed at improving the skills of SME loan officers in DFIs to carry out effective appraisal of loan applications. It is expected that the programme will be run in collaboration with the DBSA towards the end of 2006.

Environmental Management Systems for SMEs

A specialised training programme is planned for staff of the DFIs to raise environmental awareness, and to enable them integrate environmental concerns in their appraisal and management of SME projects.

Project Management

The purpose of this program is to provide an integrated and comprehensive training course specially designed for professionals working in the Infrastructure and Services. This program covers modern techniques of project planning and scheduling, project cost estimating and budgeting, resources planning, and risk management. This is a practical program for practitioners, teaching them how to plan, execute, and monitor projects using modern project management techniques with computer applications.

The program stresses the application of analytical tools to the solution of practical problems. It offers an intensive and balanced combination of core lectures, focused discussion groups, case studies and computer based exercises.  A full range of analytical techniques, covering major infrastructural projects and services are used for quantitative and strategic analysis of the case studies, which are a central part of the program.

Corporate Governance (in-country)

The workshop would aim at dealing with contemporary issues and recent developments in the field of corporate governance with special reference to the roles and challenges of DFI Board members in the Southern African region. Discussions are also ongoing with cooperating partners to strengthen the SADC-DFRC’s Corporate Governance programme, with a view to making it more effective and sustainable for the benefit of the DFIs.

Negotiation Skills

The basic objective of the project is to develop and deliver a training  programme on Negotiation Skills which will respond to the needs of SADC DFIs, and  impart in a practical and hands-on manner, the requisite skills which enable the members of staff to protect the interests of their institutions, without adversely prejudicing the project.

Secondment's to other DFIs

A number of specialized areas of need have been identified amongst the DFIs, for which specialized attachment to the bigger and specialized DFIs would be of benefit. Those interested in applying should advise the Programme Manager – Capacity Building.

Secondment's to IFC for infrastructure/PPPs

This programme aims to attach DFI members of staff to IFC projects for various lengths of time, to expose them and develop their skills in appraising and managing PPP projects.

Technical Assistance Missions to Development Finance Institutions

The SADC-DFRC will remain available to provide technical assistance to DFIs to deal with various strategic and operational issues in the DFIs, with a view to strengthening the institutions and upgrading  their processes and systems  for effective delivery on their mandates.

An advisory mission is developing a comprehensive programme of action in collaboration with Development Bank of Southern Africa to support a programme of capacity building to the Development Bank of Zambia. Another advisory mission is currently discussing issues pertaining to the strategy and operations of the CEDA, with a view to providing a comprehensive assistance programme to strengthen the organisation’s effectiveness in service delivery according to its mandate.