[caption id="attachment_5126" align="aligncenter" width="750"] TADB’s Acting Managing Director, Francis Assenga gives opening remarks at the five-day training course on Investment appraisals and risk analysis training that is held at the Double Tree Hotel in Dar es Salaam.[/caption]

By Our reporter,

The five days training for Southern African Development Community Development Finance Institutions (SADC-DFIs) that aims at assisting participants in applying a risk management framework in the execution of their duties, while developing risk management policies, procedures and methodologies for their institutions, particularly with respect to credit risk was launched at the Double Tree Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking during his welcoming remarks, the TADB’s Acting Managing Director, Francis Assenga said that risk is a key issue that constraint development of projects to lack access to short, medium and long term finance for production, processing, value addition, and infrastructure for agriculture sector because they are considered with high risk by the financial community.

[caption id="attachment_5128" align="aligncenter" width="750"] TIB Development Managing Director, Charles Singili speaks with training participants (not in picture) when giving a speech at the five-day training course on Investment appraisals and risk analysis training that is held at the Double Tree Hotel in Dar es Salaam.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5129" align="aligncenter" width="750"] The Chief Executive Officer for Southern African Development Community - Development Finance Resource Center (SADC- DFRC), Mr. Stuart Kufeni elaborates to participants (not in a picture) on the objectives of the five-day training course on Investment appraisals and risk analysis training that is held at the Double Tree Hotel in Dar es Salaam.[/caption]

Mr. Assenga said that this attitude has hampered the development of appropriate financial services and products to agriculture sectors, and limited penetration of micro-finance and bank finance for agricultural sector for the required agriculture transformation for the achievement of sustainable food self-sufficiency, food security and support to subsistence/smallholder farmers to commercial to effectively contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction.

“I request you to concentrate in these five days since you will focus on the concepts, tools and techniques of credit risk management, but you will also deal with aspects of market and operational risk that you will use in credit risk mitigation, especially through utilizing credit guarantee facilities, group lending/joint accountability arrangements, insurance policies and other similar arrangements,” he said.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer for Southern African Development Community - Development Finance Resource Center (SADC- DFRC), Mr. Stuart Kufeni said that the training is conducted to fulfill its mandate by offering training through technical and capacity building support, as well as policy research and advisory services.

[caption id="attachment_5130" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Investment appraisals and risk analysis training facilitator, Mr Siyanga Malumo speaking during the training inauguration.[/caption]

“This training is in line with the DFRC’s mandate which is to promote the effective mobilization of resources by the financial sector, in particular the DFIs, for investment in key areas with the potential to stimulate growth, generate employment and alleviate poverty, in line with the objectives of SADC,” he said.

He added that the overall approach under this programme is to develop on-the-job capacity building interventions and other training programmes directed at institutional effectiveness and enhancement of the skills base of the DFI Network members. To this end, the DFRC uses secondments, technical assistance, workshops and seminars, placements on external training programmes, and other ad hoc interventions.

[caption id="attachment_5137" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Participants follow the introductory remarks during the opening of the five-day training course on Investment appraisals and risk analysis training that is held at the Double Tree Hotel in Dar es Salaam.[/caption]

Moreover, through these interventions, the DFRC supports the strategic and organizational processes of the DFIs, their processes and systems, as well as develop and enhance skills of their staff in core areas.

“The programme will also explore best practice in institutional arrangements for risk management in DFIs and related institutions; ultimately, the aim of the capacity building programme is to achieve institutional strengthening and operational effectiveness of the DFIs, while supporting financial sector strengthening and reform in the SADC region,” said Mr. Kufeni.

According to training facilitator, Mr.SiyangaMalumo,the workshop has a highly interactive delivery method ensuring involvement of all of the delegates. A number of practical case studies will be used to test and reinforce key learning points.

[caption id="attachment_5140" align="aligncenter" width="750"] A group photo.[/caption]

“The programme is targeted at middle to senior managers involved in credit risk assessment and management, including business and project analysts with a responsibility for risk management,” he said.

The SADC-DFRC is a SADC institution established under the SADC Principle of Subsidiarity. It is collectively ‘owned’ through a Trust by the SADC-DFI Network as its ‘self-help’ organisation. Only the 29 members of the DFI Sub-committee that have signed the MOU of May 2000 are members of the Network.