Regional Integration and Trade (E-Learning)

Venue: Online
Dates: 16 October – 17 November 2017
Duration: 5 weeks
Background
This 5 (five) week course is designed to enhance the knowledge and analytical capacity of
policy-makers, academics and researchers in the area of regional integration, with a
comparative focus on Eastern and Southern Africa. This is in light of the challenges still
faced in the region related to implementation of the integration agenda such as issues of over-
lapping memberships, capacity and financing constraints.

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Press release 2017 Combined Forum

Press Release 2017 Combined Forum

EVENT: MEFMI COMBINED FORUM FOR MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND OF PLANNING, SECRETARIES TO TREASURY / PERMANENT SECRETARIES OF FINANCE AND OF PLANNING AND CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS
VENUE: Hamilton Hotel, 1101 14th St, NW, Washington, D.C. 2005, USA
DATE: 9 OCTOBER 2017

MEFMI is holding the annual Combined Forum in Washinton D.C. on Monday 9 October 2017. The event which will be attended Ministers of Finance and of Planning, Secretaries to Treasury / Permanent Secretaries of Finance and of Planning as well as Central Bank Governors from MEFMI member countries (Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) will be held at the Hamilton Hotel.

MEFMI Participates in Training Public Sector Debt Data Statistics

As part of ongoing efforts to assist member countries prepare public sector debt statistics in line with international standards and address the demand for reliable debt data for policy, economic analysis, credit assessment and regional integration processes, the Institute of Capacity Development (ICD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) organised a training on Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) from 21 August to 1 September 2017 in Washington DC, USA.

MEFMI appoints New Director

Mr Stanislas Nkhata is the new Director of the MEFMI Debt Management Programme.  Mr. Nkhata joined MEFMI in 2012 as Programme Manager and was appointed Director in September 2017. He has replaced Mr Raphael Otieno who returned to the Central Bank of Kenya after the end of his tour of duty at the MEFMI Secretariat. Mr Nkhata holds a Master of Arts Degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree (majoring in Economics) from the University of Malawi. He has vast experience in economic and public debt management, spanning over 15 years.

Zimbabwe Develops a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy and the First Annual Borrowing Plan

The Government of Zimbabwe has made significant progress in building and strengthening public debt management capacity since 2011. This includes setting up a dedicated Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), adoption of a modern public debt management legislation, preparation and adoption of debt management procedures manuals, regular reconciliation of public debt database, installation of frameworks for debt data back-up, as well as staff recruitment and training. The new Public Debt Management Act promulgated in 2015 provides a comprehensive framework for public debt management, including requirements to develop and publish a formal medium-term debt management strategy based on public debt management objectives, an annual borrowing plan, and conducting annual debt sustainability analyses.

COLLABORATIVE REGULATION KEY IN BOOSTING CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS

In the recent years, there has been a strong momentum towards regional economic and financial integration as seen by the developments in the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the African continent. This has been followed by the development and implementation of links and interconnections in payments and market infrastructures. Sound and efficient payment systems significantly contribute to the efficiency of financial systems and enhance financial stability. Consequently, well-developed regional payment systems promote cross-border trade and economic and monetary integration by reducing transaction periods and cost; and supporting safety in transaction processing.

Against this backdrop, MEFMI’s Financial Sector Management Programme (FSMP) conducted an East African Community (EAC) sub-regional workshop on cross-border payment systems from the 31 July – 4 August 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda. The workshop, the first of its kind, targeted staff from the EAC Central Banks and Ministries of Finance, involved in the operation, oversight, supervision and legal advisory of cross- border payment systems in the four MEFMI member states – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

Call for Proposals (RFP) - Development of Mortality Studies for the Region

The Institute is inviting Consultancy firms to submit for consideration, a proposal to conduct a study to develop mortality tables and a guideline that countries can use on their own.
The main objective of this assignment is to conduct a study that will culminate in:
(a)  A comprehensive and sound framework for Developing Mortality Tables;
(b) Single Mortality Table for EAC Partner States; and
(c) Specific mortality tables for other MEFMI countries.

Please click here for details of requirements

Zimbabwe Develops a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy and the First Annual Borrowing Plan

The Government of Zimbabwe has made significant progress in building and strengthening public debt management capacity since 2011. This includes setting up a dedicated Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), adoption of a modern public debt management legislation, preparation and adoption of debt management procedures manuals, regular reconciliation of public debt database, installation of frameworks for debt data back-up, as well as staff recruitment and training. The new Public Debt Management Act promulgated in 2015 provides a comprehensive framework for public debt management, including requirements to develop and publish a formal medium-term debt management strategy based on public debt management objectives, an annual borrowing plan, and conducting annual debt sustainability analyses.