Training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR 2022)

***Blended learning (online + in-person)***
Edition 2022 - in French and English 

> E-learning session in French and English
From 4 to 29 April 2022 - Limited number of places

> Face-to-face session in French and English
2nd semester 2022 - Limited number of places up to 40 participants

Following the success of the previous editions, this new edition in French and English aims to provide a unique space to explore, reflect and exchange ideas and strategies for the rural and agricultural sector, with a particular focus on the impact of climate change, especially in Africa.

Experts 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 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 (FAO) through the CABFIN project, which aims to improve capacity building in rural finance.

Target Group

The programme is intended for senior managers of financial institutions and public bodies who are in the 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. The programme is dedicated to participants coming from organisations working in Africa.

Programme

1/ INTRODUCTORY ONLINE SESSION 2022 (4 weeks - from 4 to 29 April 2022)

4 week course at your own pace (estimation of 5 to 10 hours of work per week): The online session also includes online discussions with other participants and speakers and knowledge progress tests.

The online session is introductory and grouped into 2 parts for a total of 5 modules (provisional programme):

Part 1: "Financial products and markets":
- Market assessment and product design
- Digital financial services for smallholder families
- Tailoring agricultural value chain financing mechanisms

Part 2: "Risk Management Strategies":
- Risk management in agricultural finance
- Agricultural insurance

4 simultaneous plenary sessions (webinars): One session per week will be held on topics related to current challenges in agricultural finance like lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, Innovations in agricultural finance for smallholder farmers, Green finance, Investments in SMEs.

2/ IN-PERSON SESSION 2022 (one week in the 2nd semester 2022)

The in-person session will complement and deepen the e-learning session on different topics related to agricultural and rural finance. It will be accessible to the most frequent participants of the e-learning 2022 sessions.

General information

Date: The introductory e-learning session will take place over 4 weeks (5 to 10 hours of work per week), from 4 to 29 April 2022, and the in-depth face-to-face session will take place over 1 week in the 2nd semester of 2022 (date and venue to be confirmed).

Costs: The e-learning session is free of charge upon application. The best participants in the e-learning session will automatically be accepted for the scholarship in the in-person session. The scholarships are awarded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg. They include the training fees, accommodation costs and meals. The participant will be responsible for all other costs (transport, visa, Covid test...).

Language: The e-learning session will be held in French and English (1 training platform in French and 1 in English). The face-to-face programme will be held in French and English for those selected after participating in the e-learning sessions in 2022.

Contact: If you are interested in taking part in this next edition, please contact: far@ada-microfinance.lu.

Registration

Applications are closed.
If you wish to be contacted for the next FAR session, please send your details to far@ada-microfinance.lu.

The word from the programme's pedagogical advisors

Massimo Pera
Value Chain and Rural Finance Project Coordinator, FAO (also FAR Programme)

« I think this new online version of the training program is a perfect fit for the needs of the participants who will be taking the course, whether they are MFIs, banks, credit unions, technical support agencies/granters, etc.". The course essentially aims to provide elements of an answer to the following question: "How to respond to the needs of actors in agricultural value chains (farmers, smallholders and agro-SMEs), which have a great potential for growth, but which do not have access to adapted financial services". By merging an online and a face-to-face course, participants will have the opportunity to identify key issues and solutions that can help increase access to financial services for agriculture. »

Soulemane Djobo
Head of Technical Support to Microfinance Institutions at ADA (also pedagogical referent of the FAR programme)

« The e-learning format chosen this year for the agricultural and rural finance (FAR) training because of Covid-19, aims at maintaining contact with stakeholders in the financing of agricultural sectors and value chains. The selected modules are essential because they constitute the backbone of the fundamentals in agricultural financing. While waiting for the face-to-face format, the e-learning format is intended to be a continuous stream to draw the attention of financial intermediaries to the constant need to know the market and to manage the risks by using the digital channels which are increasing in power. »

Last FAR 2021 edition in Kigali (Rwanda) in October 2021