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Module I was held at the Eskom Leadership Development Centre in June 2006, while Module II is scheduled for 4 -15 September, 2006. The programme is run in conjunction with the John Deutsch International Executive Programs of Queens University in Canada.

Through lectures by internationally recognized experts, applied case studies, and group discussions, participants will gain practical knowledge, and obtain a global perspective of recent developments in these fields.

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 ;

The curriculum will cover modern techniques for conducting financial, risk, economic, and stakeholder evaluations of investments, cost-benefit analysis, and stakeholder identification, among others.

This program has been developed for people who design, select, or finance projects and for those who are interested in the financial, economic and stakeholder impacts of investments, and have a good background in accounting, economics, engineering or finance.

The acquired operational skills have proven to be effective for the career development of individuals in a wide range of organizations, including: Public and private enterprises, banks and financial institutions, government ministries and regulatory agencies, international development agencies, management, engineering and business consulting firms.

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 are used for quantitative and strategic analyses of case studies, which are a central part of the program. Lecturers and seminar leaders are complemented by a team of experienced international teaching staff who provide individual guidance with course materials and case studies.

It is planned to hold this programme on an annual basis, so that as many analysts as possible in the SADC DFI community are exposed to modern methods of investment appraisal and risk analysis.

Corporate Governance

The Corporate Governance programme began with a three-day programme for Board Chairpersons of DFIs which was held at the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa in Parktown, Johannesburg. The participants agreed that the SADC-DFRC Corporate Governance programme should be extended to other Board members, senior managers and the political establishment who oversee the operations of these state enterprises. They also resolved that the SADC-DFRC be encouraged to convene a forum for Board Chairpersons of DFIs to discuss issues relating to corporate governance in the region, and as they relate to Development Finance Institutions.

Consequently, it was decided to hold follow-up programmes in all the SADC countries for all the DFIs. These programmes would be held on location in specific countries to minimize the burden of travel and other costs of traveling abroad for the programme. In this way the coverage of Board members would be higher in a shorter period of time. Discussions are currently under way with DFIs in three countries with a view to convening these workshops for their board members.

Consultations have also been held with the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa for them to provide technical training services at all these venues. It is expected that these follow-on programmes will be funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

The DFRC has also made requests to other cooperating partners to support the development and implementation of these programmes in the rest of the SADC countries over the next few years.

The basic objective of these programmes is to raise awareness of corporate governance issues and

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