09 Nov
2020 Agricultural and rural finance training programme

AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL FINANCE TRAINING PROGRAMME

Luxembourg, from 9 to 20 November 2020

In French only!

General presentation

The second edition of the agricultural and rural finance training programme (FAR 2020) will be held in Luxembourg from 9th  to 20th  November 2020, in parallel with the European Microfinance Week (EMW), one of the leading events on financial inclusion in Europe. This programme is organised by ADA (Appui au développement autonome), the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAEE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the CABFIN project, which is designed to improve capacity building in rural finance.

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.

Target Group

The programme, which will be limited to 40 participants, 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

The programme runs over a two week period and consists of both plenary sessions and thematic courses.

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 programme will be held over a two week period and the sessions will run over 10 days, from Monday 9th to Friday 20th November 2020. The participants will be welcomed on the afternoon of Sunday 8th November and attendance certificates will be presented on the afternoon of Friday 20th October.

Cost: The cost of the training programme is 4,000 EUR. This amount covers the ten days of training, a field visit, day admission to the European Microfinance Week on 19 November, attendance at the award ceremony for the European Microfinance Prize on the evening of Thursday 19th November, accommodation (breakfast included) from Sunday 8th to Saturday 21st November, all lunches during the programme, all coffee breaks during the programme, a welcome cocktail and shuttle to and from the airport upon arrival and departure. It does not include air fares, other local transport, all other meals and all other expenses.

Registration: please access the registration form, which must be completed by 19th June 2020. Grants to participate in the programme are available from both ADA and the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Information about these grants and applying to take part in the training programme is also available.

Language: The programme is in French.

Working hours:  The sessions will begin at 8.30am and end at 5.30pm each day and will include lunch and two coffee breaks.  

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, Luxembourg.

Accommodation: accommodation is included in the cost and will be reserved by ADA for all participants for a total of 13 nights, from Sunday 8th November to Saturday 21st November, at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Contact: Nausica Fiorelli or Caroline Morilhat :