SHORT TERM COURSES

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

The Institution has a comprehensive programme consisting of three interdependent components

Short-Term Courses Programme

SHORT-TERM COURSES PROGRAMME
(1-6 weeks)

The Short-term Courses are aimed at providing senior and middle level policy makers, managers, advisors, economists and entrepreneurs with the requisite technical and analytical skills to effectively plan, implement, monitor and evaluate development policies, strategies, programmes and projects. The courses are 1 to 6 weeks duration. The sessions are intensive, analytically rigorous, and grounded on policy issues and case studies. Courses are delivered in English, French or bilingual (English and French) sessions. However, special sessions can be delivered in other African Union languages.

Admission into the programme

Candidates are nominated by their governments, regional economic communities, institutions, organizations. Nomination does not guarantee admission into the programme. Selected candidates are awarded scholarships to cover the cost of the training programme. However admitted candidates can also be sponsored by their nominating bodies.

Target participants

Middle and senior level policy-makers responsible for policy formulation and decision making in their respective areas.

Participants must have a minimum qualification of Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent.

For each session, the number of participants is usually limited.

Mode of delivery

The sessions are usually in English or French or bilingual (English and French).

Resources persons are specialists in their respective fields from all parts of the world.

Pedagogical approach

The pedagogical approach combines lectures and presentations but emphasises practical applications through the use of case studies and group discussions.

Participants work in groups, exchange relevant experiences and present short technical reports on specific themes covered in the course or of special interest to them. The report is part of the course assesment and skill building process, which also assists the trainees in translating the skills they have acquired into action.

A comprehensive evaluation may take place at the end of the session.

List of short term courses

A - Global issues

A.1 REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICA
A.2 GLOBAL WTO NEGOTIATIONS
A.3 COMMODITY-BASED WTO NEGOTIATIONS

A.4 GLOBALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

A.5 DEBT MANAGEMENT

A.6 GENDER, DEVELOPMENT & PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE

A.7 PEACE, SECURITY, STRATEGIC STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

A.8 STRATEGIC PLANNING

B - Sectoral policies

B.1 Capital budgeting for infrastructure

B.2 Agricultural policy

Part I: Agricultural Policy Analysis

Part II: Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Part III: Analysis of Agricultural Development Projects

B.3 Finance and Development

B.4 Financial markets

B.5 Economic regulation and supervision

B.6 Human Development (Health and Education)

B.7 Labour market policy and poverty reduction strategies

B.8 Economics of ICTs

C - Applied quantitative techniques

C.1 Statistical techniques for surveys

C.2 Applied econometrics for economic policy making

Part I: Advanced Panel Data Analysis

Part II: Advanced Applied Time Series Analysis and Forecast

C.3 Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modeling

A.1 REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICA ( 1. Announcement 2. Application Form 2008 )

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

The main objective of the course is to enhance skills and capacity of participants for promoting regional Integration and managing regionalism in Africa as a key element of African development. The course deals with conceptual and empirical issues on African regionalism, problems and challenges for transformation and growth of African economies.

2. POLICY AGENDA SERVED BY THE COURSE

African governments and Institutions, Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations, Central Banks and the private sector including the Civil Society in Africa.

3. EXPECTED SKILLS AND OUTPUT UPON COMPLETION

Comprehensive understanding of the challenges and priorities of regional integration

Output of about 25 (per session) well trained, knowledgeable policy and decision-makers in regional integration in Africa.

Better understanding of regional development process and strategies in economic and regional integration necessary to high quality decisions taken in this area.

Publication of the good technical reports.

4. COURSE CONTENTS

Economic Integration: conceptual & Theoretical Issues and Pan-African Integration.

The world of regionalism: Old and New

Regionalism and the global economy: Africa in the global Economy

Experiences of Economic Integration in Africa

Interlocking problems of African Regionalism.

Monetary Cooperation and African Economic Integration

Case studies of Economic Integration Schemes in Africa

Towards an African Economic Community/African Union

Africa in the World Economy: Challenges and Implications for African Regionalism

Economic Integration and Economic Reform Programmes

Africa and South-South Cooperation and North-South Cooperation

Enhancing Capacity for African Economic Integration

Multinational Programmes in Regional Integration

A.2 WTO NEGOTIATIONS [Click here to download the course profile]

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

The main function of the course is to enhance the skills and capacity of African policy-makers to participate effectively in trade issues and WTO negotiations, and in the design of domestic and regional trade policy. Consequently, the course covers all aspects, which enable African countries to negotiate various issues on trade including domestic trade policies.

2. POLICY AGENDA SERVED BY THE COURSE

African countries governments, African Institutions, public and private sectors, Subregional organizations.

3. EXPECTED SKILLS and output UPON COMPLETION

A better comprehensive understanding of Challenges in trade negotiations and designing adequate trade policies.

Producing about 25 (per session) well trained, knowledgeable policy and decision-makers in trade negotiations.

Improvement of the share of African trade in the world economy. Indeed, the mastery of trade negotiations techniques should be reflected by an improved decision-making in this field.

4. COURSE CONTENTS

Given the main objective, the course would contain the following modules :

Introduction to WTO: overview, Core mandate and Activities, Basic principles and organization.

Trade negotiations, Implementation & Development: the Doha Agenda for Africa.

The WTO General Agreement on Agriculture, Sanitary & phytosanitary measures.

The WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

The WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

The WTO Agreement on Subsidies and countervailing measures.

The WTO agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

The WTO agreement on Trade-Related Investment measures (TRIMS)

The WTO and Dispute Settlement System

The WTO and new issues: Trade and Competition policy, Transparency, Government procurement and trade Facilitation, Trade and Environment.

A.3 COMMODITY-BASED WTO NEGOTIATIONS [Click here to download the course profile]

1. course description

Africa's share of in international trade is not only marginal but has been decreasing. WTO aimed at expanding markets across products and countries creates new challenges and opportunities for African countries. They participate in the world trade particularly through agricultural commodities for which the market is highly distorted. Controversial asymmetries derive from export subsidies in developed countries and various market restrictions including quality and health standards for food products. The capacity to negotiate with trading partners will be determinant for Africa to improve its commercial situation and face the challenge of globalisation.

2. Policy agenda served

ECA, African Union, ADB, Regional Organisations, NEPAD’s Market Access Initiative, ACP/EU commodity negotiations.

3. Expected acquired skills upon completion

Better understanding of WTO and commodity markets;

Higher domestic expertise to defend the interest of Africa with solid technical arguments in commodity-based trade negotiations

4. Course contents

Concepts of organised markets and market technology

Structure and conduct of international commodity markets

Market access rules and exceptions

WTO specific commodity agreements

Objectives and stakes of commodity-based negotiations

Negotiation techniques, tools and procedures

Risk management of commodity prices

Commercialisation of African commodities

Issues and prospects for African commodity producers

A.4 GLOBALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA [Click here to download the course profile]

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Globalization is a process of structural changes led by forces beyond the control of individuals, firms, and countries. It is strongly associated with market liberalization, keener competition between nations, rapid growth of world trade, capital flows expansion, and accelerated progress of new information and communication technologies (ICTs). How the process impacts on African economies and the people’s livelihoods is not yet so clear.

Those who are pro globalization argue that the process provides greater opportunities for faster integration into the global economy and poverty reduction. They go further to talk of the convergence of global economy. On the other hand, opponents of globalization put forward the argument of increasing inequality. This is mainly illustrated by the trade and development experience of African countries which are marginalized from the globalising economy. Africa how ca face the challenges and seize the opportunities associated with the process of globalization, which seems irreversible.

2 . POLICY AGENDA SERVED

ECA, African Union, ADB, Regional Organizations, individual African countries.

3. EXPECTED ACQUIRED SKILLS UPON COMPLETION

Better understanding of the process and implications of globalisation for Africa

Higher capacity for African countries to face the challenge and take advantage of globalization.

4. COURSE CONTENTS

Causes of Africa’s marginalization from the global economic system

Major challenges and opportunities of globalization for Africa

Globalization and regionalization

Economic governance in the context of globalization

Strategies for attracting foreign direct investment

Lessons to learn form successful developing countries with respect to globalization