AFC-ADG Financial Sector Experts meet at Montabaur Castle

AFC-ADG Financial Sector Experts meet at Montabaur Castle

For the seventh time, AFC Consultants International and ADG organized the Financial Expert Day on Montabaur castle, the headquarters of ADG, on January 9th and 10th 2015. The event has become an integral part of AFC’s and ADG’s activities to exchange with consultants active in the field of financial sector development. AFC and ADG can look back on more than 30 successfully implemented projects in the field of financial sector development thanks to the close cooperation with highly skilled experts.

The number of more than 40 participants shows the high interest in and appreciation of such an annual meeting. Jointly with AFC’s /ADG’s financial sector in-house staff long term experts from ongoing projects, associated consultants and those interested in a future cooperation had the unique possibility to exchange best practices and knowledge on “Professional financial training approaches”, the title of this year’s event. During the first day, the participants learned more in detail about the issues of trainings needs assessment, study tours but as well about the application of e-learning methodologies and business simulation games. To give a better insight in the concept of e-learning, this session was designed as a webinar informing the audience via this channel about the possible usage of such technologies in financial sector development projects. Also highly appreciated was the input by Dr. Marco Rimkus, presenting the possibilities of using a banking simulation game in order to transfer management skills to bank employees. During the session, Mr. Rimkus combined the introduction to banking simulation games with a practical exercise and a discussion of critical aspects for a successful implementation of such a game. AFC and ADG projects in Tajikistan and Myanmar have already benefitted from the banking simulation game, which proved to be a useful tool for capacity development in banks and Microfinance Institutions.

The first day of intense discussions on the different topics was concluded with a dinner in Montabaur castle knights’ hall where the participants could exchange and enjoy the come together.

The second day was meant to discuss the possibilities and constraints of applying different training approaches in projects currently implemented by AFC and ADG. During group work sessions the participants had the chance to share their valuable comments and opinions on a regional SME Finance Project in East Africa and a Rural Finance Project in Tajikistan. As experts from both projects were present during the Financial Expert Day, suggestions and new ideas could be ideally discussed. Both AFC and ADG highly appreciated the active participation by all experts and will revise the implementation of one or the other suggestion in the projects in East Africa and Tajikistan along with the project teams. As for East Africa the consultant team is considering to include webinars in the capacity development activities of the beneficiary banks. A blended learning approach seems to be a perfect option to combine on-site training activities with preparatory or follow-up webinar sessions. The integration of the banking simulation game in the capacity development has been considered as an option for the banks’ mid-/top management to learn that different departments are responsible for success of a financial institution and therefore a close interaction with manager and employees from different departments is a crucial factor for a sustainable growth and success.

As for Tajikistan the consultant team concluded that the summer / winter schools should be offered on a frequent basis and develop a self-sustainable financing structure. A primary goal is to be certified by the National Bank of Tajikistan, bringing an added value for the participants and eventually to the Tajik financial sector.

Mr. Johannes Buschmeier (Managing Director AFC) and Mr. Rüdiger Meister (Head of Department ADG International) are already looking forward to welcome interested experts and consultants to next year’s eighth Financial Expert Day on the 8th/9th of January 2016 – to exchange with them on a high professional level. Soon the preparations for the next workshop will be initiated, starting with the definition of a relevant topic for next year’s event, for which all the participant have been invited to share interesting suggestions.

Marcel Pape; marcel.pape [at] afci.de