MEFMI Launches e-learning Course on Legal Aspects of Public Debt Management

As part of its on-going efforts to expand its outreach to member states, MEFMI in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has launched an e-learning course on Legal Aspects of Public Debt Management. The course aims to equip debt managers, lawyers and other debt management practitioners with knowledge and skills on appropriate legal and institutional framework for public debt management as well as the implementation challenges.

The course was launched on 6July and will run up to 14 August 2015. In his welcome remarks to the participants, MEFMI’s Executive Director, Dr. Caleb Fundanga, said that MEFMI has introduced e-learning in response to increasing demand by member states. He said that the main advantage of e-learning is that it would expand MEFMI’s outreach to government and central bank officials in the region, particularly those who are unable to leave their places of work to attend face-to-face workshops, due to either tight work schedule or budget constraints. He added that e-learning also provides flexibility to participants as the learning is conducted in an asynchronous manner.

Dr. Fundanga noted that a sound legal framework for debt management is critical because it sets the basis for borrowing as well as well as undertaking other debt transactions. He added that a sound legal framework ensures good governance, transparency, accountability as well as effectiveness and efficiency in the management of public debt. He therefore urged participants to be committed to the training and thereafter apply the knowledge and skills gained from the e-learning course.

The course will cover the following modules: introduction to debt management; the government borrowing process; financing sources; loan agreements; legal and regulatory frameworks for public debt management; and dispute resolution and arbitration. It will also include discussions that will be moderated by experienced mentors from the legal offices across the world.

MEFMI will roll out additional e-learning courses in late 2015, including those on Financial Negotiations Skills and Techniques, Introduction to Balance of Payments Compilation and Analysis, and Fundamentals of Microfinance Supervision.