MEFMI Accredits Ten Fellows

MEFMI held yet another very successful event in Harare, Zimbabwe, to award accredited and graduate certificates to 22 Fellows. Ten (10) Fellows were accredited while 12 were awarded certificates as Graduate Fellows. This is the largest number of Fellows to be awarded certificates at the same time since the Institute was established.

The ceremony saw Fellows from eight (8) MEFMI countries; Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – being awarded certificates. A MEFMI staff member, Mr Lekinyi Mollel was also awarded a certificate as an Accredited Fellow.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the MEFMI Executive Director Dr Caleb Fundanga commended the Fellows for their commitment. He stated the MEFMI Fellows Development Programme (FDP) is a very intensive programme, whose aim is to groom the best experts who play a critical role in shaping the economic landscape of the region.

Dr Fundanga also thanked the Fellows for their presentations which he described as highly relevant research papers. He stated that the ideas presented should be put into practice for the benefit of the region.

Candidate Fellows, undergo training for a period of 18 months, during which time they are oriented, trained in research skills, report writing, facilitation and consulting skills, mentored by experts, and also attached to reputable institutions within the region. The Fellows are ultimately expected to produce a Technical Paper which adds value, not only to the body of knowledge, but the region and client institutions. The Candidate Fellows who obtained the needed pass mark of 70% and above are enrolled onto the apprenticeship phase which lasts an average period of one year. There after they are assessed in order for them to become Graduate Fellows. Apprenticeship involves Fellows participating in training programmes as resource persons, participating as experts on in-country missions, attending advanced courses, and ultimately writing a discussion paper for Accreditation.

Speaking to the Accredited Fellows, Dr Fundanga said that they are a critical component of the pool of resource persons that should be easily accessible to client institutions and the region as a whole. He said Accredited Fellows are important to the region and the funding that has gone into their training should pay off. He stated that Accredited Fellows have more responsibilities as over and above being resource persons and participating as experts on in- country missions they also conduct training and undertake country missions.

Speaking at the same occasion, the guest of honour, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Charity Dhliwayo, commended MEFMI for the FDP which she described as a crucial component for creating long-term and sustainable capacity within the region. She challenged the Fellows to develop their technical papers into publishable books and working papers which go towards building a strong MEFMI library .

Dr Dhliwayo also emphasized the need for MEFMI to embrace technology in order to extend its reach in capacity building. She also encouraged the Institute to establish an academic board for the FDP.

The FDP is an accelerated expert formation endeavour for Central Banks and Ministry of Finance officials in MEFMI member countries. It has been established to train outstanding officials at professional level in these institutions, into experts who later serve as trainers and trouble-shooters in capacity building activities.

Please click here for the remarks by Dr Fundanga and Dr Dhliwayo.