Training
Training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR)

***Blended learning (online + in-person)***
Edition 2023
> Introductory e-learning session
from 27 March to 21 April 2023
> Face-to-face session
from 9 to 14 October 2023 in Lomé, Togo (one week prior to SAM)
The Agricultural and Rural Finance (FAR, derived from the French name Finance agricole et rurale) training programme is organised by ADA, the Luxembourgish Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
It targets professionals working in the financial sector in Africa who wish to develop financial and non-financial products for the agricultural sector. The training is therefore suitable for executives who can take operational decisions within their organisations (operations managers, credit managers, etc.).
The training is held in French and English once a year in two sessions: an introductory e-learning session over four weeks, followed by a one-week, in-depth, face-to-face session for the most assiduous participants.
Course content
1/ INTRODUCTORY ONLINE SESSION 2023 (from 27 March to 21 April 2023)
4-week course at your own pace (estimated workload of 5 to 10 hours per week): The online session includes online discussions with other participants and speakers as well as tests to assess your progress.
The online session is introductory and grouped into two parts with a five modules in total (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 plenary sessions (webinars): One session per week will be held on topics related to current challenges in agricultural finance such as lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, innovation in agricultural finance for smallholder farmers, green finance and investments in SMEs.
2/ IN-PERSON SESSION 2023 (from 9 to 14 October 2023 in Lomé, Togo - one week prior to SAM)
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 assiduous participants of the e-learning sessions.
General information
Costs: The e-learning session is free of charge. The best participants of the e-learning session will automatically be accepted for the scholarship for 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 training will be organised in French and English. For the e-learning session, a training platform will be set up for each language. For the face-to-face session, the courses will be separated into two languages.
Contact: For further information about the training, please contact us via our e-mail address.
Application
Applications for the 2023 edition of FAR are no longer accepted. To be notified about the next editions, please submit your contact details via this form.
LATEST NEWS

FAR 2023 training kicks off with 145 selected participants
30 March 2023
The programme, organised in partnership between ADA, MAEE and FAO, aims to provide a unique space to explore, reflect and exchange ideas and strategies for financing the agricultural sector in Africa.
Read the article
The training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR) is about to start in Cotonou
30 September 2022
The second part of the training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR) with the 40 most assiduous participants of the first session in April will be held in Cotonou, Benin, from 17 to 22 October.
Read the article
FAO makes financial institutions aware of climate change challenges during the FAR training
13 June 2022
Nadine Valat, Team leader of the FAO-Green Climate Fund partnership, hosted a webinar on the effects of climate change as part of the FAR training. In a video for ADA, she explains what role can play financial institutions in this fight.
See the video
Great success of the introductory session of the FAR training
7 June 2022
Following the introductory e-learning session of training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR), ADA collected the feedback from the participants, who once again recognised the added value of the programme for the agricultural sector.
Read the article
The FAR training as a platform for addressing agroforestry challenges
13 May 2022
Jean-Paul AKA, CEO of LOCAGRI and consultant for the UNDP, hosted a webinar to raise awareness of agroforestry issues in the agricultural sector as part of the training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR). In a video for ADA, he explains the environmental, social and economic challenges of agroforestry and how FAR participants can take on these challenges.
See the video
FAR training brings together 150 agricultural organisations in Africa
25 April 2022
The training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR) 2022 brings together 70% representatives of MFIs and 30% representatives of authorities, fintechs or insurance companies. ADA interviewed four participants to understand why they signed up for the training.
Read the interviews
Launch of the FAR 2022 training in agricultural and rural finance
4 April 2022
The introductory session of the training in agricultural and rural finance (FAR) 2022 took place today. In the next four weeks, participants will follow the online courses at their own pace and will discuss with other participants in an online forum. Caroline Morilhat and Thu Hien Dao, FAR training coordinators at ADA, tell us more about the highlights of this year’s edition.
Read the interview