Financial Negotiation Skills and Techniques (MEFMI/UNITAR partnership course)

Type: Course
Date: 12 Oct – 20 Nov 2015
Duration of event: 6 weeks
Location: web-based
Programme area: Public Debt Management
Fee: No fee

Website: http://www.unitar.org/pft/events
Event focal point email: pft-elearning@unitar.org

Background

This online course is organized by the MEFMI Debt Management Programme in collaboration with UNITAR.
A country’s negotiating capacity has direct bearing on the terms, conditions and cost of borrowing. Through adequate preparation and appropriate negotiation skills and strategies, countries can effectively influence the outcome of loan agreements. This would require building and putting in place negotiation teams having the necessary competencies according to the kind of negotiation at hand. It is important to have clear roles of the team members and all those involved in different stages of the negotiations for external loans.

Developing countries face the challenge of ensuring the appropriate mix of skills to undertake negotiations. From time to time, it is important that officials are coached in loan negotiation techniques and strategies. This course will provide an opportunity for officials to be exposed to concepts of negotiation, international negotiation practices, practical negotiations skills and key considerations in negotiating external loan agreements. This course will be in two components: the first part is offered through e-learning, and the second is residential in order to consolidate the material covered through on-line training.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, the participants should be able to:
• Demonstrate familiarity with the global negotiating environment;
• Describe the main characteristics of international financial markets and financial flows;
• Recognize which source of funds caters to a particular purpose; and
• Appraise the contribution of lawyers in financial transactions.

Content and Structure

This online course will cover the following modules:
• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Official Sources of Funds
• Module 3: Commercial Sources of Funds
• Module 4: Debt Renegotiations
• Module 5: The Role of the Lawyer in Financial Transactions

Methodology

In order to ensure the best possible outreach, the course will be delivered through e-learning. Through a multiple-instructional setting, the goal is to achieve the learning objectives by means of learning technologies that match personal learning styles and by the inclusion of non-linear learning that aims at the development of just-in-time skills of adult learners. At the same time, in order to allow participants maximum flexibility of scheduling, the learning will be conducted in an asynchronous manner. Using a state-of-the-art training architecture, MEFMI will combine self-learning with assessments and online discussions. The pedagogy – adapted specifically to professionals in full-time work – will help train participants through various experiences: absorb (read); do (activity); interact (socialize); reflect (relate to one’s own reality).

Targeted Audience

The course is targeted at middle to senior level officials in Central Banks, the Ministries of Finance and Planning as well as Ministries of Justice / Attorney General’s Chambers who are responsible for drafting and reviewing legal documents for government borrowing. Priority will be given to MEFMI member states namely: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Additional Information

A certificate of completion will be issued by MEFMI to all participants who complete the course-related assignments and assessments successfully.

Recommended hardware and software requirements for taking our e-learning courses:
• Platform: Windows XP sp3, Vista sp2, Windows 7 sp1, MacOS X.
• Hardware: 2 GB of RAM and higher for Vista and Windows 7.
• Software: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint and Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable for free at adobe.com).
• Browser: Internet Explorer 8 or higher; Mozilla Firefox 8 or higher.
• Internet connection: 128kbps and higher.
• Note: JavaScript, pop-ups & cookies must be enabled.

For further information about the course, please email:
Mr. Raphael Otieno
MEFMI Director Debt Management Programme
Email: raphael.otieno@mefmi.org

or

Mr. Lekinyi Mollel
MEFMI Programme Manager – Institutional Development & CSDRMS
Email: lekinyi.mollel@mefmi.org