Development Finance Training Network (DFTN)

Introduction

The current financial crisis has exposed major weaknesses in our understanding of how the elements that drive global finance operate. Over several decades, training in finance has concentrated largely on capital markets development, corporate finance and investments at the secondary level. Little attention was, therefore, paid to financial training that addresses issues impacting on financial development at the developmental level.

There are thousands of development finance related institutions dotted around the world with more than 800 in Africa alone. Major development finance institutions include the World Bank, African Development Bank, the IMF, Asian Development Bank to name just a few. Despite the critical role played by development finance institutions in the promotion of economic development, not much has been done to develop a platform for development finance training. Universities and training institutions in Africa and elsewhere have done very little to promote development finance training. As a result of the obvious training gap in development finance, the Global Development Finance Centre (GDFC) established a Development Finance Training Network in 2010 to develop a platform for development finance training and bring development finance practitioners and institutions together. A product of the network is the benchmark Masters in Development Finance Degree offered in partner with a number of Universities in Africa. The Network also provides short courses in development finance.

Aims and Objectives DFTN

The aims and objectives of DFRN are:

1. To develop a global a platform for development training research;To build a network of development finance researchers, practitioners and institutions in Africa and beyond;

2. To provide training support to development finance institutions;

3. To coordinate development finance activities of development finance training network;

4. To establish a development quality control training program to standardised training modules; and

5. To coordinate other development finance training related programs

Membership of Network

Membership of the Training Network is free to individuals and institutions. There are two membership groups:

1. Associate Membership: This is opened to individuals with interest in development finance research;

2. Institutional Membership: This is opened to Development Finance Institutions, Academic/Research Institutions, Other Finance

Membership Benefits

1. Members will have access to training outlines;

2. Members will attend Network events (conferences, seminars and workshops) at a discount;

3. Members will attend Development Finance Training programs at a discount;

4. Associate members will be listed on the website of Global Development Finance Centre;

5. Associate members will be marketed in DFTN publications;

Some Training Programs

Some of the training programs will include Microenterprise Finance; Financial Risk Management for SMEs; Financial Monitoring and Evaluation; Energy Finance; Project Finance; Infrastructure Finance; Public Sector finance, Project Management etc.

Masters in Development Finance

Africagrowth Institute coordinates the collaborative Masters in Development Finance Degree program between an number of African Universities. More information on the program can be found at http://www.africagrowth.com/GDFC.htm

Contact

Ms Dina Potgieter
Global Development Finance Centre
Email: dina@africagrowth.com
Tel: +27 21 914 6778

Online Application Form

Our website:
www.africagrowth.com

Our telephone:
+27 21 914 6778/6769

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