Agricultural and rural finance training programme (blended formula: e-learning + face-to-face)

AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL FINANCE TRAINING PROGRAMME

***New blended formula (e-learning + face-to-face)***
E-learning session from November 9th to December 4th, 2020 + face-to-face session in 2021 for the 30 most assiduous participants of 2020

In French

**New blended formula (e-learning + face-to-face)** 
Due to the health crisis linked to Covid-19, the second edition of the programme in agricultural and rural finance (ARF 2020) will be held in 2 sessions: e-learning from 9 November 2020 and face-to-face in 2021. 

Following the success of the first edition, which was held in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso in 2019, the objective of this edition is to provide a unique forum to explore, reflect and exchange ideas and strategies for the rural and agricultural sector, with a particular focus on the impact of climate change, particularly in Africa.

Expert speakers will present specific activities and results, thereby making it possible to both identify and analyse the experiences in order to draw lessons in terms of the best practices throughout the globe.

This programme is organised by ADA (Appui au Développement Autonome), the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg (MAEE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the CABFIN project, which aims to improve capacity building in rural finance.

Target Group

The programme is intended for the senior managers of financial institutions and public bodies who are in a position to use the principles and tools provided to formulate strategies to design and deliver products which contribute to the financing of agricultural value chains.

Programme

Due to the health crisis linked to Covid-19, the training initially planned in Luxembourg in face-to-face sessions in 2020 is adapted. A new formula proposes an introductory e-learning session in 2020 (4 weeks) and a face-to-face session in 2021 (2 weeks). Candidates who have applied for the training are automatically passed to the selection committee for this new formula. Successful candidates will therefore be able to follow the e-learning session from 9 November to 4 December 2020 and the 30 most assiduous participants will automatically be accepted for the scholarship for the face-to-face session in 2021.

E-LEARNING SESSION 2020

4 weeks of courses at your own pace (5 to 10 hours of work per week), the courses also include online discussions with other participants and knowledge tests.
The online courses are introductory and grouped into courses: 

a) Course 1: "Financial products and markets":
- market opportunities and product design
- digital financial services for agricultural financing
- financing mechanisms in agricultural value chains

(b) Pathway 2: "Risk Management Strategies":
- risk management in agricultural finance
- agricultural insurance

4 simultaneous plenary sessions (webinar). One session per week will be held on topics related to current challenges in agricultural finance:
- lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic
- the impact of climate change
- agroforestry financing and management
- investment funds / Financing of agricultural value chains (FAVC)

THE FACE-TO-FACE SESSION 2021
The face-to-face session will be accessible to the 30 most assiduous participants of the e-learning 2020 session.

The plenary sessions take place every morning from 8.30am to 10.00am and at certain lunchtimes, from 1.15pm to 2.15pm, in the framework of thematic lunches. Experts in the field of rural and agricultural finance and financial inclusion will present the practices and tendencies in the sector.

The provisional programme of the plenary sessions covers the following areas:

• The impact of climate change on the actors in the agricultural sector
• The position of the donors and the development financial institutions
• Warrantage and the alternatives to real guarantees
• Public policies that facilitate investments in agriculture
• Segmentation criteria for farmers and the customer-focused approach
• Agroforestry finance practices

The thematic courses will take place in the morning from 10.30am until 1.00pm and in the afternoon from 2.30 to 5.30. Participants will attend four courses of their choice over the two week period. The topics will be related to the challenges and innovative techniques which allow access to financial services for the agricultural actors operating in Africa.

The provisional programme of the thematic courses is as follows:

• Agricultural and rural finance: opportunities, emerging models and product design
• Finance mechanisms in agricultural value chains  
• Risk management in agricultural finance
• Agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers
• Digital services for agricultural finance
• Portfolio performance management in rural finance

General information

Dates: The e-learning session will take place over 4 weeks, from 9 November to 4 December 2020 and the face-to-face session will take place over 2 weeks in 2021 (dates and place still to be defined).

Cost: The e-learning session is accessible free of charge on application form. The 30 best participants in this session will automatically be accepted for the scholarship to the face-to-face session in 2021. Participation grants are awarded by ADA and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg. They include training fees, accommodation and meals.

Registration/admission: Applications for the e-learning 2020 session are closed. The 30 most assiduous participants will be automatically accepted for the scholarship for the face-to-face session in 2021.

Language: The programme is held in French.

Working hours: The e-learning session is to be carried out at your own pace, with an estimated 5 to 10 hours of work per week for 4 weeks. The e-learning session also includes webinars, online discussions with other participants and knowledge tests. 
For the 2021 face-to-face session, classes start at 8:30 am and end at 5:30 pm each day, including lunch and 2 coffee breaks.   

Contact: Nausica Fiorelli or Caroline Morilhat : info@ada-microfinance.lu