Africa is reported to have a trade finance gap of USD100 bn. This gap could be larger with the coming into existence of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, alongside other regional and national trade expansion initiatives. Importers and exporters in Africa are in demand of trade finance to cover cross-border trade.

On the other hand, financial institutions in Africa have challenges with making available the needed finance for cross-border trade. Financial institutions’ lack of liquidity, lack of tailor-made trade finance products, regulatory and compliance challenges as well as the cost of trade finance products are among the leading reasons for the low level of trade finance.

While the number of financial institutions that provide trade finance in Africa is dropping, SMEs in Africa find it more expensive to access trade finance for cross-border.

The objective of this course is to build the capacity of participants on the peculiarities and opportunities of intra-African trade and the unique trade finance tools and products to unlock intra-Africa cross-border trade.

• Intra-Africa Trade Frameworks and Opportunities
• International Trade Cycle and Dynamics
• Types of Trade Finance
• Sources of Trade Finance
• Trade Finance Risks

Participants may have basic understanding of trade finance concepts and the functioning of financial institutions. Familiarity with international trade processes and regulations is an advantage but not mandatory.

Professionals within financial institutions and businesses who are involved in facilitating trade finance transactions within Africa such as:

• Trade Finance Managers
• Import and Export Officers
• Finance and Accounting Professionals
• Relationship Managers
• Export and Import Finance Officers
• Risk Analysts
• Compliance Officers

• Our courses help you achieve fluency in the language of trade and trade related topics in the context of Africa, drawing from international best practices and localizing it to African context.
• Our courses are designed to be relevant to your professional development, helping you develop skills sets that can immediately be applied to your work.
• Our courses help you build and sharpen the fundamental skills in trade and related topics which empowers you to become a competent professional in your chosen field.
• Our faculty is made up of experts-from Africa-with diverse expertise in varied environments, and leadership experience, providing our participants with insightful knowledge, drawing from several years of both professional and academic experience.
• The Academy provides participants to a wide range of current and emerging resources and best practices that complement your training experience.