IMFCEF

Undergoing an AML / CFT Mutual Evaluation (AMLSv)

Target Audience:  Officials from countries that are scheduled to undergo an AML/CFT mutual evaluation under the second round of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF); legal drafters, policy makers, financial sector supervisors, and regulators of designated nonfinancial businesses and professions; financial intelligence unit officials; criminal justice officials; officials who are involved in assessing national money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and more broadly officials tasked with preparing for their countries’ mutual evaluations and application of anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) laws.

Qualifications: The participants must also have practical experience of at least two years in AML/CFT issues and would preferably be directly involved in preparations for a mutual evaluation.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course is provided by the Legal Affairs Department at the International Monetary Fund and is designed to assist officials in charge of preparing their country files in preparation for undergoing the mutual evaluation process. The course also aims to give a broad overview of the international standard for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, sharpen the understanding of select aspects of the standard and how to implement these, and present methods for demonstrating effectiveness of implementation. It will also clarify administrative aspects of a mutual evaluation and share good practices in managing the process.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Deepen their understanding of the requirements under the FATF Standard and increase ability to demonstrate effectiveness of implementation.
• Understand administrative aspects of a mutual evaluation process.

Introductory Course on Monetary and Financial Statistics (MFS-Iv)

Target Audience: Central bank officials responsible for compiling monetary statistics.

Qualifications: Participants should have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, prepares participants to compile monetary statistics covering the central bank (CB) and other depository corporations (ODCs) in accordance with international standards. The course materials are based on the Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (MFSMCG). The course discusses the principles of residency and sectorization of institutional units, the characteristics and types of financial instruments, valuation principles, and other accounting issues that are relevant to the compilation of monetary statistics. Participants also become familiar with the defining characteristics of depository corporations (DCs), notably their role as money issuers, and with the main principles on which analysis of monetary and credit aggregates is based. The course consists of lectures, workshops, and case studies dealing with practical aspects of compiling monetary statistics, especially the use of financial statements for filling out standardized report forms (SRFs 1SR and 2SR) for the CB and ODCs, and the derivation of the monetary survey for the CB, ODCs, and the depository corporations sector. At the end of the course, participants are expected to make a short presentation on monetary statistics compilation issues in their own countries.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Compile monetary statistics (sectoral balance sheets and surveys) for the CB, ODC, and DC sectors according to the methodology recommended by the MFSMCG (i.e., residency, sectorization, account classification by type of financial instruments, valuation, and other accounting issues) using SRFs 1SR and 2SR.
• Use the monetary survey and the main monetary and credit aggregates in analyzing monetary policy.

Strengthening Budget Institutions - – Budget Execution and Cash Management (SBIv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials in ministries of finance or economy, treasuries, cash management or debt management offices.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have experience in experience and basic background in cash and debt management.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The four-day virtual course presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department is based on the full course on Strengthening Budget Institutions with a focus this year on budget execution and cash management. The course aims at bringing together managers and technical staff of ministries of finance from countries in the region to enhance their understanding and share ideas and experiences in the policy choices and operational techniques required to efficiently execute a budget.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Summarize and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the cash management practices of their own country relative to regional comparators.
• Explain and describe how to strengthen their cash management arrangements.
• Summarize factors in the choices involved in treasury single account systems.

Risk Based Banking Supervision (RBSv)

Targeted Audience: Mid to Senior level banking supervisors and inspectors in charge of the supervision of banks.

Qualifications: Applicants are expected to be involved in banking supervision. Ability to use simple Excel-based spreadsheets is recommended. Participants are expected to analyze their own country’s risk-based supervision framework and conduct exercises in a self-paced manner which can be done individually or in groups.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description:  This regional course, presented by the IMF-CEF and the IMF-Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC), aims at bringing together banking supervisors and inspectors to improve their knowledge, skills and capabilities in methods and tools for risk-based supervision, with a focus on sharing regional practices.

Delivery: In order to guarantee a hands-on and interactive training approach, two topical presentations will be provided during each session and will be limited to 35 minutes each. 50 minutes will be allocated to the hands-on case study each day. To achieve maximum interactivity and buy in, the practical part of the course will be divided into groups of participants, in different dedicated cisco WebEx rooms, for the purpose of solving the case studies. Participants have to present the results of their case study the next day and are free to stay longer in the special room than the 50 minutes if need be.  The results will be shared in the plenum and discussed.

Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the objectives, relevance and implementation challenges of risk-based supervision frameworks.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of their country’s approach to risk-based supervision.
• Develop a plan for strengthening their risk-based supervision framework.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Didier Casier, METAC Banking Supervision advisor, at: dcasier@imf.org

Fiscal Policy Analysis in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (FPAv) 

Target Audience: Junior to senior officials interested in understanding fiscal policy and its macroeconomic implications.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have taken undergraduate courses in macroeconomics or have equivalent experience and have a basic background in microeconomics and econometrics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) course.

Language: The course is conducted in Arabic.

Course Description: The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic contraction it triggered is putting enormous pressures on public finances. The impact is compounded in oil-exporting countries due to a sharp decline in oil prices. The severity of the shock will likely result in a temporary large deterioration in the fiscal accounts and an increase in public debt levels.

The course provides an overview of the fiscal policy tools that governments have used to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on households and firms and their potential implications on macroeconomic stability and sustainable long-term growth.  This hands-on course is built around the core macro-fiscal topics needed to assess the role of fiscal policy in macroeconomic management. The learning units include general empirical findings, Microsoft Excel-based workshops, case studies, and selected topics of regional interest.

Quarterly National Accounts (QNAv)

Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling national accounts statistics.

Qualifications: Participants should have a degree in economics or statistics or the equivalent.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, offers an opportunity for thorough understanding of concepts, sources of data, and compilation techniques for producing quarterly national accounts statistics. The course is based on the IMF Quarterly National Accounts Manual (2017 Edition) and is oriented to national accounts compilers from countries that are improving, developing, or planning to develop quarterly national accounts (QNA). The course covers both theoretical and practical compilation issues, specifically the following main topics:

• scope and role of QNA
• data sources for compiling quarterly GDP estimates (mainly using production and expenditure approaches)
• editing procedures and dealing with indicators
• benchmarking techniques for combining quarterly indicators with annual estimates
• seasonal adjustments
• price and volume measures
• chain-linking techniques for compiling QNA time series
• early estimates of quarterly GDP
• other specific QNA issues
• revision policy and dissemination practices.

The course consists of lectures, workshops, and small group discussions.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the QNA in terms of its compilation, scope, role, and international standards and best practices.
• Describe data requirements for and methods of compiling the different sets of QNA statistics, especially GDP and its valuation.
• Illustrate the relation of the QNA to other aggregates within the SNA.
• Draw up a simple framework to compile basic national accounts series, from collection and development of source data to application of simple statistical methods to derive aggregates.
• Gain practical experience dealing with specific issues relating to the compilation and use of quarterly data.
• Describe the analytical uses of quarterly information on GDP, other potential analytical uses, and some advanced techniques to assess economic activity more accurately.

Current Issues in Banking Supervision and Regulation (BRSv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior bank supervisors as well as regulators working in the supervision and regulation departments of central banks and agencies charged with supervising banks.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have experience in banking regulation and supervision.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, reviews the latest developments in banking supervision and regulation, including the capital adequacy standards, the liquidity measurement rules, large exposures and related party transactions, and evolving policy views and approaches for dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. Sessions focus on aspects of particular relevance to each region and discuss both the main implementation challenges and their implications for banks and supervisory authorities. The course will also focus on implications of the Covid-19 crisis on banking regulation and supervision. In this regard, the guidelines of standard-setting bodies as well as the policy measures implemented by countries in response to the Covid-19 crisis will be discussed.  .

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Define and summarize the main elements of the Basel standards and how they are being implemented in their own countries.
• Describe the latest reforms and developments in other international banking regulatory standards.
• Identify good supervisory practices to capture and assess banking risks and take effective action.
• Describe the implications of the Covid-19 crisis on banking regulation and supervision. 

Tax Policy and Administration: Theory and Practice (TPATv)

Target Audience: Senior officials from ministries of finance and tax administrations whose responsibilities include advising ministers on tax policy issues or managing tax administration. Their duties are likely to include policy analysis and evaluation; drafting policy proposals; drafting tax laws; and managing organizational issues, strategic planning, information technology, and other major operational functions in tax administration.

Qualifications: Participants involved in policy areas are expected to have a degree in economics, law, or a related field, experience in producing analytical reports, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Participants involved in tax administration areas are expected to be senior managers from the top two levels of their agency.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department, is designed to broaden participants’ knowledge of the main challenges governments face in designing, administering, and monitoring a modern tax system. It briefly outlines the theoretical underpinnings of tax policymaking and discusses in detail its practice and implementation with an emphasis on the region the course is directed to. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and develop strategies to improve their tax systems and how they are implemented and administered. Through lectures and workshops, the course:

• Provides an overview of policy design principles and their implications for tax administration—establishing linkages between tax policy and administration and showing how functions feed into one another;
• Reviews design issues for major taxes that form modern tax systems (e.g., broad-based consumption and income taxes, property taxes, and small business tax regimes) and discusses approaches to tax policymaking in specific economic and institutional settings, such as resource-rich countries and countries in economic blocs/customs unions;
• Discusses the organization and operations of tax administrations and the management of tax compliance, drawing on experiences within and beyond the region.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Summarize key tax policy design principles and their implications for tax administrations, such as how to link tax policy and tax administration; how  functions feed into one another; and how design principles may differ in different economic settings, perhaps comparing resource-rich countries with other countries.
• Identify the core elements of the major taxes in modern tax systems, such as broad-based consumption and income taxes, property taxes, or small business tax regimes.
• Recognize the impact and consequences of specific policies usually in place in some countries (reduced rates, exemptions, tax incentives, delay in refund tax credits such as the VAT, restriction to input tax deductions in the VAT or expenses in the CIT, etc.).
• Identify the main problems affecting international taxation and the tools to reduce them (transfer pricing regulations, exchange of information among countries, etc.).
• Describe and analyze the organization and core functions of modern tax administrations, and the key challenges and approaches to managing tax compliance.
• Summarize common barriers and approaches to tax system reform, including the formulation of a Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS).
• Explain new tools for the assessment of a tax system, including the tax administration diagnostic assessment tool (TADAT), Revenue Administration Gap Analysis Program (RA-GAP), Tax Expenditure Assessment Tool, etc.

Value Chain and Industry Analysis for Policy Design – Bootcamp (VCv)

Target Audience: This course is designed for senior level government officials from the ministries of industry, trade, agriculture, economy, and planning as well as SME and local development agencies and authorities.

Qualifications: Participants will be senior level representatives from the ministries of industry, trade, agriculture, economy, and planning as well as SME and local development agencies and authorities, playing a decision-making role in the design, implementation, oversight and/or evaluation of cluster, sectoral or national development policies, programs and projects.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description:  The objective is to help policymakers to improve their skills in Industry Analysis, Strategic Segmentation and Value Chain Analysis and Benchmarking. These widely used business strategy tools are applied with a different lens, to identify market failures that hamper private sector development and design non-disruptive public policies to address them. 

Financial Programming and Policies (FPPv)

Target Audience: Officials from ministries of finance, economy, planning and central banks who advise on or help implement macroeconomic and financial policies.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or equivalent experience and be proficient in the use of spreadsheets. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Programming and Policies, Part 1: Macroeconomic Accounts and Analysis (FPP.1x) or the online Financial Programming and Analysis, Part 2: Program Design (FPP.2x) course.

Language: The course is conducted in Arabic.

Course Description: This course explains how to diagnose macroeconomic imbalances and correct them through a coordinated set of adjustment policies. It covers the principal features of the four main macroeconomic sectors (real, fiscal, external, and monetary) and their interlinkages, highlighting both accounting and behavioral relationships and using data from a country case study.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze economic and financial developments of a country in the region using historical data and a hands-on, Excel-based framework;
• Create consistent one-year macroeconomic projections on the assumption that policies do not change;
• Identify economic vulnerabilities and risks in a baseline scenario and policy measures to address them;
• Prepare an adjustment scenario that reflects the policy measures and their macroeconomic impact;
• Identify further policy goals and measures beyond the one-year horizon that will be incorporated into a medium-term framework.

Advancing the Strategic Use of Public Procurement in MENA and GCC Countries (PPMv)

Target Audience: Government officials in line ministries and public entities in charge of public procurement and infrastructure policies and projects.

Qualifications: Officials with a relevant experience in procurement and/or infrastructure projects wishing to improve their knowledge and decision-making capacity to enact policies related to these topics.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: Public procurement is a key governmental activity that represents 15-20% of GDP in MENA and GCC countries. It plays a key role in the delivery of public services. The goal of this four-day course is to deepen participants’ understanding and knowledge of the main principles, policies, tools, and instruments to enhance the efficiency and the strategic use of public procurement. Those principles can be applied to all procurement projects including infrastructure projects throughout the procurement cycle. Key topics will be covered during this course such as the use of public procurement to achieve different objectives, risk management, emergency procurement.

The course is conducted by experts from the infrastructure and public procurement division of the OECD and the IMF and uses both theory and case studies based on the experiences of the OECD and MENA countries. Participants are encouraged to also share their own national experiences. Speakers have a deep and varied knowledge of the topic from the public and private side. The course is conducted in an informal and frank manner to encourage general participation and lively discussions.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Gain in-depth knowledge on how to enhance public procurement systems and how to implement efficient policies;
• Learn how to manage complex procurement and infrastructure projects covering the whole procurement cycle: the preparation phase, the implementation phase, and the termination phase;
• Gain in-depth knowledge of governance and risk assessment of the procurement areas which are most vulnerable including large infrastructure projects;
• Be provided with multiple and concrete examples of projects and how to maximize success and value for money; The examples are based on the OECD and peers experience; and
• Expand their professional networks and learning from other participants.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms. Kenza Khachani, at: Kenza.KHACHANI@oecd.org

Bank Restructuring and Resolution (BRv) 

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials in central banks, regulatory agencies, supervisory authorities, ministries of finance, deposit insurance funds, and other agencies with responsibility for bank supervision, bank resolution, and the operation of financial safety nets.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have experience in bank supervision, bank resolution (policy issues or operational experience) and/or depositor protection.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, provides a comprehensive overview of conceptual and operational issues related to the restructuring and resolution of weak banks. Among the topics discussed during the course are:

• Identification and supervision of weak banks: common causes of banking problems and how to identify them as well as early intervention tools and supervisory approaches for dealing with weak banks;
• Operational preparedness: institutional foundations of the financial safety net and inter-agency coordination; building blocks of effective resolution regimes (guided by the Financial Stability Board’s Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes); recovery and resolution planning; initiatives to test operational preparedness; and the role of deposit insurance and depositor preference;
• Crisis containment: liquidity support, government guarantees, and exceptional administrative measures to stop persistent liquidity outflows;
• Bank restructuring and resolution: initiation of resolution proceedings; resolution options for systemically important and non-systemic banks; cross-border resolution; system-wide diagnostics and restructuring strategies; and policy considerations and instruments for public capital support;
• Dealing with distressed assets: market failures and policy reforms; approaches for resolving nonperforming loans—supervisory policies, insolvency and debt enforcement, distressed asset markets and the role of asset management companies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain the building blocks of crisis preparedness and management.
• Identify weak banks and devise strategies for dealing with them.
• Pinpoint key design features of effective resolution regimes and options for enhancing operational preparedness.
• Identify stabilization options in response to financial panic and design credible strategies for bank restructuring and resolution at an individual and system-wide level.
• Compare options for dealing with distressed assets.

Selected Analytical Tools for Better PFM Reforms and Systems (PFMv)

Targeted Audience: Senior and technical staff in charge of developing or monitoring Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms, and donors’ representatives.

Qualifications: Participants must have experience in supervising or carrying PFM reforms. They are expected to analyze their own country’s PFM system and conduct exercises individually and in groups.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This four-day course, presented by the IMF Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) in collaboration with the PEFA Secretariat and the IMF Center for Economics and Finance (CEF) will present selected PMF analytical tools including the PEFA evaluation, Open Budget Survey, and Fiscal Transparency Evaluations. The course will also train participants in how to identify reform priorities for the medium-term and how to define the related capacity development needs.

Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Use, at a basic level, the selected analytical tools above, including how such tools generate their outputs, and analysis and interpretation of results.
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of countries’ current approaches to reform, and how capacity development can improve them.

Modalities: The course will be delivered remotely (Zoom).

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Benoit Wiest, METAC Public Financial Management Advisor, at:bwiest@imf.org

Delivering Social Protection in an Age of Technological Disruption: Policy Framework, Design, and Implementation (SPv)

Target Audience: Policymakers, practitioners, and experts/specialists who work in the design and implementation of Social Safety Nets (SSN), public officers, experts/specialists from ministries of labor and social affairs / family affairs and international organizations who work on Social Safety Nets.

Qualifications: Participants will be senior-level representatives from ministries of labor and social affairs / family affairs and relevant international organizations. Prior knowledge of the field is not required, but interest in learning tech solutions to delivery of SP services is encouraged.

Language: The course will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: Given the changing nature of jobs and skills and the diverse needs of the population, many countries are building social protection systems that seek to: (i) build equity, opportunity, and resilience through redistribution to reduce poverty and inequality, (ii) invest in human capital, and (iii) create mechanisms to help insure against shocks and various risks.

Foundational, disruptive technology platforms at the heart of Social Protection (SP) Delivery Systems, such as Digital IDs, Dynamic Social Registries and Payment Gateways, have evolved significantly, enabling a more human-centered design and delivery, scaling up coverage, improving efficiency and efficacy, and supporting poverty reduction.

This course will address, Social Safety Net policy framework, design, and implementation of SSNs and, recent developments in social protection delivery systems by providing global knowledge on the conceptual frameworks, and first-hand experience from international best practices.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Ahmet Fatih Ortakaya, Senior Social Protection Specialist, at: aortakaya@worldbank.org

Financial Development and Financial Inclusion (FDFIv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials from central banks and government agencies dealing with regulation of the financial sector. Preference is given to applicants working on issues directly related to financial development and inclusion.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of economics or finance, or equivalent work experience. Knowledge of econometrics is helpful but not required. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Development and Financial Inclusion (FDFIx) course.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course explains the macroeconomic relevance of financial development and inclusion. Beginning with an analysis that defines the role of finance in the economy, the course reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of finance on macroeconomic performance and growth. It also addresses policies to encourage financial development (market-enabling policies) and limit its potentially destabilizing effects (market-harnessing policies). The course introduces financial inclusion as an integral dimension of financial development—a perspective that has only recently received proper attention because for many years the discussion instead centered on the concept and measurement of financial depth. The course reviews the indicators currently used to measure financial inclusion, its distinct macroeconomic impact, and the main policy strategies usually pursued.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Measure the degree of financial development and inclusion for a country or countries using a wide range of standard indicators;
• Identify the shortcomings of various indicators and recognize the possible need to collect more detailed microeconomic data;
• Use a simple analytical model to predict the likely outcomes of different policies on financial inclusion;
• Assess policy options and strategies for financial development and inclusion from a macroeconomic perspective by identifying potential tradeoffs and possible impediments; and
• Formulate a strategy for policies to support financial development in a country, taking into account initial conditions and links between the financial sector and the macroeconomy.

Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIv)

Target Audience: Officials at central banks and supervisory agencies for the financial sector who are involved in the collection, compilation, and analysis of financial soundness indicators.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The course will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This virtual training course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, acquaints participants with the fundamentals of compiling and using financial soundness indicators (FSIs) in support of macro-financial surveillance. The virtual training covers methodological and technical issues in the construction of FSIs, as discussed in the 2019 Financial Soundness Indicators Compilation Guide (2019 FSI Guide). The training takes an interactive approach using hand-on exercises in discussing the main topics as follows:

• Compilation of FSIs for deposit takers;
• Regulatory framework for deposit takers;
• Accounting principles for the compilation of FSIs for deposit takers;
• Concentration and distribution measures for deposit takers;
• Overview of the compilation of FSIs for other financial corporations and other sectors;
• Macro-Financial surveillance and FSIs.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Compile FSIs in accordance with the methodology of the 2019 FSI Guide.
• Prepare or update FSI metadata using the concepts acquired on accounting principles and regulatory framework for deposit takers.
• Use FSIs for macro-financial surveillance.

Macroeconomic Management in Resource-Rich Countries (MRCv) 

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials from central banks, ministries of finance, and other government agencies tasked with the design and execution of policies in resource-rich countries (RRCs).

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel. It is strongly recommended that applicants first complete the online Macroeconomic Management in Resource-Rich Countries (MRCx) course.

Language: The course will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Institute for Capacity Development, discusses macroeconomic policy issues and challenges faced by RRCs. The course provides participants with an understanding of: the macroeconomics of growth and diversification, fiscal policy management, macroeconomic policy coordination, and public-sector asset management in RRCs. The course incorporates lectures, hands-on workshops, debates, and case studies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze economic performance in resource-rich countries, including in terms of growth, inclusiveness, diversification, and sustainability.
• Design appropriate fiscal frameworks, applying suitable fiscal benchmarks to determine whether to consume, save, or invest the proceeds from the sale of natural resources.
• Identify the appropriate macroeconomic policy responses to commodity price shocks.
• Design policies to promote transparency in the management of natural resources, including in terms of the appropriate institutional structures for sovereign wealth funds.

Cross-Border Position Statistics (CBPSv)

Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compiling the international investment position (IIP) and/or external debt statistics (EDS), as well as Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS) or Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS) data.

Qualifications: Participants should have a degree in economics, statistics, and have a minimum of one year of experiene in compiling IIP and/or EDS.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF’s Statistics Department, provides training on the methodology for compiling and disseminating CBPS, including the integrated IIP and memoranda and supplementary position data items following BPM6; EDS, including currency composition, remaining maturity, and debt service schedule; the CPIS, including sectoral data; and the CDIS. The course consists of a series of lectures, discussions, and practical exercises. Lectures and class discussions focus on general concepts and compilation practices, while exercises provide participants with an opportunity to put knowledge learned into practice. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss problems encountered in their compilation work and gain insights into the analytical uses of the international accounts. The course will be based on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, sixth edition (BPM6), the 2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users, the 2017 CPIS Guide, and the 2015 CDIS Guide.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Compile IIP, EDS, CPIS, and/or CDIS––as well as the memorandum and supplementary items of the IIP and tables on external debt statistics––according to the conceptual framework;
• Identify potential new data sources for the compilation of the CBPS;
• Apply compilation techniques and best dissemination practices related to CBPS;
• Illustrate the relationship between the integrated IIP and the balance of payments, and the integration of cross-border positions data into the broader macroeconomic framework;
• Understand the analytical use of CBPS.

Reforming Fuel Subsidies (RFSv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials at ministries of finance, other ministries, and government agencies involved in setting fuel prices or fuel subsidy policy.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or a related field. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is desirable.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department, explores recent developments in subsidy spending on fuel products, their macroeconomic impact, and the environmental and social implications. Building on country-specific case studies, the course elaborates on key elements of successful reforms, such as measures to protect low-income groups adversely affected by lower subsidies. The course also disseminates tools for measuring subsidies and assessing the distributional impact as well as alternative fuel pricing mechanisms that can help smooth the transmission of international fuel prices to domestic prices while protecting the budget. Participants may be asked to make presentations on their own country’s experience in setting fuel prices and reforming subsidies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain the different rationales for energy subsidies and how subsidies are measured;
• Describe the drawbacks of energy subsidies;
• Identify possible barriers to the reform of fuel subsidies;
• Design an effective reform strategy drawing on lessons from the experiences of other countries;
• Use tailored tools to measure fuel subsidies and estimate the impact of a fuel subsidy reform on household welfare, in order to inform the design of mitigating measures and guide the choice of alternative fuel pricing mechanisms.

Risk-Based Banking Supervision (BSOv)

Target Audience: Mid-level bank supervisors.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance and be familiar with bank regulation and supervision issues.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, presents the fundamentals and goals of risk-based supervision (RBS), its challenges, and factors central to its success. Through a mix of lectures and practical applications, the course covers the main RBS components and steps for putting it in place. It balances discussions of technical financial modeling, and less analytical bank supervision techniques. The course begins by introducing RBS concepts and tools. The focus then turns to assessment of credit, liquidity, market, and operational risks and stress testing techniques. Finally, the course discusses how to combine information for constructing supervisory scores, developing supervision plans, and allocating supervision resources and activities.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the main components of RBS and why they are important for effective supervision.
• Identify a variety of banking risks and evaluate their impact on the bank’s risk profile.
• Apply RBS tools and concepts in drafting supervision plans and performing supervisory activities.

How to apply PEFA, the PEFA Gender, and the PEFA Climate modules for PFM improvements (PEFAv)

Target Audience: This course targets senior finance officials in Finance and Planning ministries, who are responsible for designing and/or following up on the implementation of PFM reforms. This course is expected to enable participants to analyze the performance of the PFM systems in their countries, and to lead and participate in discussion of reform design and implementation.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to be senior officials from the Ministry of Finance (or Planning), have deep expertise in PFM, and contribute to/are responsible of designing and/or following up the implementation of PFM reforms.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The course introduces the participants to the PEFA assessment framework, which is considered the most comprehensive framework for evaluating the functioning of the PFM systems at national and subnational levels of government. It contains seven pillars, each of which assesses aspects of PFM including budget credibility, policy-based budgeting, transparency, financial reporting, public investment management, audit and oversight.

The course, for the first time in the Middle East region, will also include training on the specialized PEFA modules on climate change and gender responsive PFM. During the course, participants will get tips on using these applications to analyze PFM performance and laying down PFM reform programs.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Apply the above-mentioned PEFA frameworks to conduct assessment of the performance of the PFM system in their countries.
2. Be able to interpret the outputs and results and utilize them in designing and monitoring the outcomes of implementing PFM reforms.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms. Lobna Ahmed, Senior Public Sector Specialist, the World Bank, at lahmed@worldbank.org

Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDSv)

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience, good quantitative skills, and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Programming and Policies, Part 1: Macroeconomic Accounts and Analysis (FPP.1x) or the online Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDSx) course.Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials in central banks and ministries of finance or economy who are directly involved in diagnosing the state of the macroeconomy and making projections.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course is designed to strengthen participants’ ability to comprehensively assess a country’s macroeconomic situation, including the current state of the economy; the stance of fiscal and monetary policy; financial stability; exchange rate misalignments; vulnerabilities in the different sectors; and the medium-term outlook, especially the sustainability of public and external debt.

The course emphasizes practical tools for use in day-to-day macroeconomic analysis and relies on case studies relevant to the region where the course is given to illustrate how these tools are applied and how they can contribute to the policymaking process.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze potential output, calculate output gaps, and diagnose the outlook for the economy;
• Assess the stance of current fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, and financial policies;
• Assess macro-financial linkages, including through the analysis of financial sector soundness indicators;
• Assess the medium-term prospects of the economy, especially the sustainability of public and external debt; and
• Identify possible external and internal economic risks and vulnerabilities to economic growth and identify policies to address them.

Fiscal Frameworks (FFv)

Target Audience: Junior to mid-level government officials in ministries of economy, planning, finance, treasuries, central banks, independent fiscal agencies, and other agencies involved in the analysis, design, conduct, and assessment of fiscal policy.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance or equivalent work experience, good quantitative skills, and proficiency in the use of computers to analyze data. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) and the Fiscal Policy Analysis (FPA) course before enrolling in this course. Familiarity with Microsoft Excel is essential as many workshops are conducted in Excel.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course reviews the role of government and objectives of fiscal policy; revisits essential macrofiscal tools and methodologies; and identifies a country’s fiscal framework as the set of institutions that design and conduct fiscal policy. The course stresses the need for high-quality information, transparency, and responsibility in order to hold governments accountable for their medium- to long-term fiscal objectives. The course concludes with thematic presentations by participants.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe recently introduced institutions to enhance fiscal policy effectiveness;
• Critically assess the quality of data for fiscal policy;
• Design fiscal rules for specific national problems;
• Use an in-year tool to monitor fiscal performance; and
• Contribute to building a medium-term budget (for consolidation or stimulus) while limiting recession risks and respecting sustainability.

Regulation and Supervision of Institutions offering Islamic Financial Services (IFSv)

Target Audience: This course is primarily designed for the junior and mid-level banking supervisors from financial supervisory agencies who have limited knowledge of the Islamic Finance and Banking common body of knowledge and who have limited experience in Islamic Banking regulation and supervision.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have limited knowledge and experience, in Islamic Finance and Banking and related Islamic Banking regulation and supervision.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This remote course is designed to build capacity of officials supervising Institutions offering Islamic Financial Services but having limited knowledge about the Islamic Finance and Banking common body of knowledge. This course focuses on the prudential international standards issued by the Islamic Financial Services Board (with a focus on IFSB 3, 10, 12, 15, 16 & 17) and, through case studies, on how they should be integrated in the supervisory framework.

Course Objectives: The objectives of the course are to strengthen participants knowledge, skills and expertise in the regulation and supervision of IIFS.

Pedagogical approach: the pedagogical approach used will rely on:

• Presentations from the experts and the participants (with a peer learning purpose);
• In-depth analysis of following IFSB standards: core principle (IFSB 17), capital adequacy (IFSB 2 & 15), corporate and sharia governance (IFSB 3 & 10), risk management (IFSB 1),  liquidity risk management (IFSB 12) and the supervisory review process (IFSB 5 & 16) with a focus on their implementation and integration within the supervisory framework;
• Facilitated discussion among participants;
• Analysis of examples;
• Practical case studies;
• In-depth discussions on how to implement key aspects of the Islamic Financial Services Board prudential standards and key characteristics of Islamic Banking regulation and supervision, including how to apply best supervisory approaches to identify and assess inherent risks to Islamic banking and take effective supervisory action to mitigate them.

Course delivery:

Participants are expected to answer a stock take survey before the start of the course related to the IIFS regulatory and supervisory frameworks applicable in their country. A METAC regional note will be drafted after the course, reflecting on the answers obtained from the survey and the discussions held during the course.

Participants are expected to participate actively during the Zoom sessions.

Course outline:

The sessions will be covering following topics:

• The basics of Islamic Finance (defining the concepts and principles of Islamic finance, Islam and the role of Sharia, history of Islamic finance, characteristics of the Islamic finance industry, role and activities of the IFSB and AAIOFI, specific terminology, IMF & METAC activities in relation with Islamic finance, case study).
• Contrasting commercial and Islamic banking (sources and uses of funds, Islamic financial instruments, case study).
• Islamic investment markets (Islamic commercial ethics, Islamic contracts, Islamic capital market, managing assets in Islamic investments, investing in Islamic bonds, case study).
• Corporate and Sharia governance of IIFS (corporate governance, Sharia boards, issuing financial statements, case study).
• Managing risk in IIFS (credit, market, liquidity, operational, reputation, equity investment, displaced commercial, rate of return, sharia noncompliance risk, case study).
• Capital adequacy frameworks for IIFS and the supervision of capital adequacy (eligible capital instruments, IFSB standards, determination of alpha coefficient, ICAAP frameworks in IIFS, case study).
• Supervision of IIFS (IFSB standards, core principles, supervisory review process, case study).
• Supervision of IIFS (IFSB standards, risk based supervisory framework, stress testing).

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Didier Casier, IMF-METAC Banking Regulation and Supervision Advisor, at: DCasier@imf.org and Mr. Abdullah Haron, IMF-MCM, Senior Financial sector expert, at: Aharon@imf.org

Post Crisis Revenue Generation for Tax Administration (TAv)

Target Audience: The course is primarily designed for senior officials of tax administrations responsible for managing tax administrations and development of business processes.  (e.g., Director General, Deputy Director General, Directors of Functional Areas including taxpayer service, registration, filing, audit, payment compliance). It is also useful for senior managers in charge of tax policy development and analysis, to form a better understanding of how policy design may affect the return of tax administrations to normal operations post-COVID-19.

Qualifications: Applicants are expected to be involved in managing the daily operation of tax administrations and establishing strategic plans. 

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course is presented by experts from the International Monetary Fund Fiscal Affairs Department and METAC. It covers the following topics:

• Restoring revenue flow post COVID-19
• Action plan to re-establish revenue flow
• Considerations for implementing the Action plan
• Timing and sequencing of actions to move to normal operations

Course Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to provide guidance on how tax administrations can re-establish revenue collection as quickly as possible following the lockdown imposed by COVID-19, to meet the resources necessary to fund responses to the pandemic, while being mindful of the economic impact that COVID-19 has had on businesses and individuals. The webinar discusses a multi-dimensional approach that should be used to develop an action plan that is country specific, and that can be used by administrations to help prioritize actions to promote revenue collection.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms. Fadia Sakr, METAC Revenue Administration Advisor, at: fsakr@imf.org

National Accounts Statistics: The Sequence of Accounts and the Recording of COVID-19 Related initiatives (NASv)

Target Audience: The course is intended for government officials who are integrally involved in the compilation or utilization of national accounts statistics. Participants should be national accounts statistics compilers, suppliers of statistics that are used to compile national accounts statistics, or users of national accounts statistics for official policy-making purposes.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by experts from the International Monetary Fund’s Statistics Department will cover the following topics:

• An overview of the sequence of accounts;
• The scope, role and strategic issues of the sequence of accounts;
• Recording of COVID-19 related initiatives.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe fundamental aspects of a sequence of accounts that is aligned with the international standard.

• Know the linkages between the sequence of accounts and the main economic statistics calculated for each account.

• Understand how COVID-19 related initiatives are recorded in the national accounts.

Financial Sector Surveillance (FSSv)

Target Audience: Junior to mid-level government officials tasked with surveillance of the financial sector, especially staff of the central bank, financial regulators, and other agencies that engage in macroprudential oversight.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance, preferably at the master’s level, or equivalent work experience; good quantitative skills; and proficiency in the use of computers to analyze data. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Market Analysis (FMAx) course. Because many of the workshops use Microsoft Excel worksheets, familiarity with the basics of Excel is important.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course introduces participants to key concepts and tools used in the identification and assessment of financial sector vulnerabilities and sources of strength. The course materials provide a basic toolkit to assess financial sector risks and measure them against existing capital and liquidity buffers in the financial system. The discussions focus on the early identification of unwarranted macro-financial imbalances and the analysis of the transmission of financial distress across institutions, markets, and economic sectors, with the objective of reducing the likelihood and the severity of financial crises. A combination of lectures and hands-on workshops allows participants to apply essential risk assessment techniques.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Measure the main risks facing banks (e.g., credit, market, funding) and their respective capital and liquidity buffers, from a systemic financial stability perspective.
• Design and perform basic stress tests of solvency and liquidity and interpret the results.
• Recognize the importance of nonbank financial intermediaries and their links to banks.
• Assess macro-financial linkages, including the links between the financial sector, the government, and the real economy, along with potential amplification mechanisms.
• Track the buildup of systemic risk and vulnerabilities associated with credit, real estate prices, leverage, balance sheet mismatches, and interconnectedness.
• Assess how shocks can amplify throughout the financial system, e.g., through adverse liquidity spirals or feedback effects between asset prices and leverage.

Selected Central Banking Issues in Fixed Exchange Rate Arrangements Without Capital Controls (FERv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials working on monetary operations and financial stability in central banks or other monetary authorities.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have experience with monetary operations and financial markets.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Central Bank Operations Division of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCMCO), is dedicated to the central banking challenges in fixed exchange rate arrangements without capital controls. The course covers three topics: (i) managing systemic liquidity; (ii) setting up collateral frameworks as well as emergency liquidity assistance (ELA), and (iii) stress testing the central bank balance sheet. While, in theory, capital flows alone could manage domestic liquidity and stabilize short-term rates at the right level, short-term rate volatility could arise in the absence of central bank intervention in the domestic market due to friction cost between the local and international money market, counterparty risk perception in the domestic market, and prudential liquidity regulations. Moreover, Central banks operating under a fixed exchange rate arrangement are exposed to exchange rate risk and negative carry trade on their assets that could be acute if domestic interest rate spread needs to widen to defend the exchange rate parity. The technical aspects of the course will focus on (i) the optimal operational set up to reduce domestic interest rate volatility, and to address bank liquidity risks effectively while protecting the central bank’s balance sheet, and (ii) the stress-testing of the central bank balance sheet items under adverse scenarios to pro-actively monitor and manage risks, and articulate monetary policy with financial stability.  

The course gives participants the opportunity to learn and apply new tools used or created by MCM for the purposes of calibrating open market operations and managing systemic liquidity risk, and stress testing central bank balance sheets, also incorporating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, the course allows participants to share their experiences on market operations, stress testing methodologies, and risk mitigation policies. Much of the course consists of lectures and of hands-on modules that expose participants to concrete experiences, including inputting data, designing scenarios, stress-testing the central bank balance sheets at different horizons and interpreting the results. MCM experts will then discuss how to articulate the outcome of the risk analysis with policy decision making. The concrete policy outcome could be to fine-tune the calibration open market operations and improve the structural liquidity management tools, as well as differentiating the usage of monetary policy instruments and ELA depending on the stress scenarios.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Manage liquidity in a way that is supportive of the exchange rate and monetary arrangements as well as market development;
• Develop collateral and emergency liquidity assistance frameworks that are robust to the constraints related to the monetary policy regime; and
• Design different stress scenarios and estimate the central bank balance sheet at risk at different horizons.

Monetary and Fiscal interactions in DSGE Models (MFIMv)

Target Audience: PhD students, economists in policy institutions (e.g. treasuries and central banks), and other professional economists interested in fiscal policy.

Qualifications: First year graduate-level macroeconomics or equivalent skills acquired through practical work.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department, provides an introductory from intermediate to advanced level of training on the effects of various fiscal policy tools in alternative monetary environments.

This course will: (a) go through the derivation of the workhorse closed-economy New Keynesian DSGE model in detail and how it is amended to account for open economy aspects, (b) make participants familiar with key transmission channels of fiscal policy in workhorse, New Keynesian closed and open economy general equilibrium models, (c) make participants understand the important interactions between fiscal and monetary policy in such models.

These models will be used to analyze current challenges for fiscal policy, related to fiscal stimulus and consolidation in open economies with exchange rate pegs and floating exchange rates, and the interactions between fiscal and monetary policy in general and especially in atypical situations like liquidity traps.

Sessions will provide theoretical foundations, but also focus on providing practical hands-on knowledge so that participants are actually able to use these models for policy analysis. by regulators and supervisors, as part of their daily supervisory activities. The sessions will be instructional, as well as interactive through group exercises.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the basics of monetary and fiscal policy in DSGE models.
• Understand how transmission of various fiscal tools depends on monetary policy and the exchange rate arrangement (fixed vs. floating exchange rate).
• Understand how government debt dynamics differs in normal times when monetary policy is unconstrained and in liquidity traps when the central bank policy space is limited.
• Understand the implications of a low equilibrium interest rate environment for macroeconomic stabilization by fiscal and monetary policy.

International Corporate Tax Issues (ICTv)

Target Audience: Senior officials from ministries of finance and tax administrations whose responsibilities include advising ministers on tax policy issues, in particular international tax, or managing tax administration, in particular large taxpayer office. Their duties are likely to include policy analysis and evaluation; drafting policy proposals; drafting tax laws; treaty negotiation and major operational functions in tax administration (such as transfer pricing and exchange of information).

Qualifications: Participants involved in tax policy areas are expected to have a degree in economics, law, or a related field, and experience in tax policy. Participants involved in tax administration areas are expected to be senior managers from the top two levels of their agency.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: There are two primary sources of fundamental and increasing pressure for reforming the taxation of multinational enterprises (MNEs): i) tax avoidance and planning by MNEs (“profit shifting”) using a variety of strategies; and ii) international tax competition. Within that context, this course explains the scale and scope of international tax pressures and discusses reform options and their economic implications. Moreover, the course covers particular areas of relevance for countries in the region including tax treaty policy, design of anti-tax avoidance measures, and international tax aspects of the extractive industries in resource-rich countries. Modality of the course: Two presentations a day (each 45 minutes followed by Q&As for about 15 minutes).

Fiscal Policy Analysis (FPAv)

Target Audience: Junior to senior officials interested in understanding fiscal policy and its macroeconomic implications.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have taken undergraduate courses in macroeconomics or have equivalent experience and have a basic background in microeconomics and econometrics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) course.

Language: The course is conducted in Arabic.

Course Description: This course provides an overview of the concepts and techniques used to analyze how fiscal policy can help ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable long-term growth. This hands-on course is built around the core macrofiscal topics needed to analyze fiscal policy. The learning units include general empirical findings, Microsoft Excel-based workshops, case studies, and selected topics of regional interest. The course will be of interest to officials who wish to better understand how fiscal policy can affect the economy and the related tools of analysis.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Use fiscal policy to attain key government objectives: macro-stability, equity and efficiency, and sustainable long-term growth;
• Use the tools and techniques acquired to assess the country’s fiscal stance, fiscal multipliers, and debt sustainability; and
• Assess the key elements of tax and expenditure policy.

Methods and Tools for Medium-Term Budget Planning (PFMv)

Target Audience: Technical staff in charge of developing or managing a medium-term budget within a budget directorate, accountant general office, a macro-fiscal unit, or the Treasury.

Qualifications: Applicants are expected to be involved in the development and implementation of medium-term budgeting. Ability to use simple Excel-based spreadsheets is mandatory. Participants are expected to work on costing exercises in a self-paced manner which can be done individually or in groups; they are also expected to analyze their own country’s budgeting system and to this end prepare short inputs.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This four-session course, presented by the IMF-CEF and the IMF-Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC), aims at bringing together senior managers and technical staff to share methods and tools for medium-term budget planning. The course will include:

• A general overview of the key features of a Medium-Term Budget Framework (MTBF), based on a medium-term fiscal framework (MTFF);
• Tools and methods to build and strengthen medium-term budgeting;
• Hands-on training on the development of baseline estimates and forward costing in key expenditure areas;
• An overview of recent developments and international experiences related to medium-term budget planning

Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the relevance of medium-term budgeting for modern public finance management;
• Describe the key features of a MTBF and institutional underpinnings;
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their country’s approach to medium-term budgeting;
• Apply the basics of setting a baseline and forward costing.

Modalities: The course will be delivered remotely via Zoom. The four sessions will be organized in two blocks (each block consists of two sessions conducted on two consecutive days) and separated by a few days in order to give participants enough time to work on the exercises and accommodate to their daily work.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Jonas Frank, METAC Public Financial Management Advisor, at: jfrank@imf.org

Statistics on International Trade in Goods and Services (ITGSv)

Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compiling balance of payments, international merchandise trade statistics, and/or international trade in services statistics. Participants should be familiar with the methodology of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, sixth edition (BPM6).

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience; have basic knowledge of balance of payments concepts; and have at least one year of experience in compiling balance of payments or in collecting and processing source data on goods and/or services for compiling balance of payments statistics.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, is intended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying international trade in goods and services statistics, including practical advice on data sources and techniques for compiling these statistics. The course is mainly based on the BPM6 Compilation Guide and the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 Compilers Guide (MSITS 2010 CG). Under a remote delivery, the course will usually cover 3-hour daily sessions that will largely consists of a mix of presentations and case discussions on country practices covering concepts, sources, and methods for compiling statistics associated with international trade in goods and services. Recognizing the challenges in compiling statistics for certain services categories, such as manufacturing and merchanting, insurance, financial services, and construction, the course emphasizes specific aspects of their treatment and how they are recorded in the balance of payments. Participants have the opportunity to discuss compilation problems they have encountered and gain insights into the analytical uses of statistics on the international trade in goods and services.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain the compilation of international trade in goods and services accounts related to the balance of payments, according to the techniques provided in the BPM6 Compilation Guide and the MSITS 2010 CG.
• Identify new data sources that could improve the compilation of statistics on the international trade in goods and services.
• Apply appropriate statistical techniques for dealing with complex methodological and compilation issues in compiling statistics on international trade.

Improving productivity, Diversification and Competitiveness in MENA (COMPv)

Target Audience: Government officials in charge of economic policy and development policy, including competitiveness, productivity, economic diversification, private sector development, investment and trade, and sectoral development.

Qualifications: Participants should have notions of economics, economic development, industrial policy and other areas related to the development of the private sector in a country.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The course is conducted by OECD staff and international experts in competitiveness and private sector development. The course focuses on analysing and sharing instruments and policies to enhance national and sub-national competitiveness. The course analyses:

• The main challenges and opportunities for increasing competitiveness in MENA countries;
• The prevailing definitions and metrics of competitiveness and their reach and limitations;
• Experience in the implementation of structural policies, especially those aimed at promoting the development of the private sector;
• Case studies from MENA and OECD countries.
• The course combines active discussions of those topics and practical exercises. The participants are invited to place the methodologies and tools from the course under the perspective of their own countries and are encouraged to share their own experiences and practices.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Gain knowledge on approaches to defining what is important for increasing competitiveness and analyse different tools to support specific economic sectors or activities.
• Debate the reach and limitations of those approaches and discuss the policy mixes and institutional set-ups to competitiveness strategies.
• Present the practices and experience of their own institutions and learn from peers.
• Expand their professional networks.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Jorge Galvez Mendez: Jorge.Galvezmendez@oecd.org

Macro-Stress Testing (MSTv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials working on financial supervision or financial stability in central banks or other supervisory authorities.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have experience with stress testing, Basel regulations, and financial stability analysis.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM), discusses recent developments in stress testing for banks, insurance companies and mutual funds. It gives participants the opportunity to learn and apply new tools used or created by MCM for purposes of stress testing and systemic risk analysis, also focusing on COVID-19 crisis. New, emerging topics in stress testing, such as feedback loops between real and financial sectors, asset fire-sales, climate change and fintech related risks are also covered. Some of the tools are integral to the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) and technical assistance missions. Moreover, the course allows participants to share their experiences on stress testing methodologies and financial stability analysis. Guest speakers from industry are also invited to discuss risk management concepts and stress testing methodologies relevant to Islamic Financial Institutions. The course reviews stress testing objectives, methodologies, techniques, and good practices. Much of the course consists of hands-on modules that expose participants to the entire stress testing cycle: from entering data and estimating macro-financial models to designing scenarios, selecting assumptions, running tests, integrating feedback loops between financial and real sectors, communicating the results, and incorporating them in policy decision making, for example, by informing the calibration of capital and liquidity buffers.

Throughout the course, the focus is on the scenario design, solvency and liquidity elements of the stress testing exercise and their interactions. The course concludes with a roundtable discussion where participants exchange knowledge and share country experiences.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Identify main sources of financial stability risk;
• Summarize the principles for developing macro-financial stress scenarios;
• Link changes in macroeconomic and financial variables with financial results and measure their relative impact;
• Assess the resilience of individual entities and the financial system to solvency and liquidity stress; and
• Develop and incorporate models that are capturing second round effects or interactions between different risk types.

Macroeconometric Forecasting and Analysis (MFAv)

Target Audience: Government officials involved in developing macroeconometric models and forecasting for the analysis, design, and implementation of macroeconomic policy.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience and a background in econometrics. They should also be comfortable using EViews for econometric applications. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Macroeconometric Forecasting (MFx) course.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course gives government officials a rigorous foundation in the estimation of macroeconometric models and their application for forecasting and policy analysis in central banks, ministries, and public research institutions. Participants work in groups on hands-on estimation and forecasting exercises.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Identify the bases for a number of model specifications;
• Use EViews software to apply modeling techniques to country data and replicate results from important published research papers;
• Apply the techniques learned to country cases from their region to forecast and analyze a policy issue; and
• Apply appropriate tools available in the EViews econometric package to their own work or research and that of other countries.

Applying Behavioral Science to Public Policy – A Guide for Practitioners (BSPPv)

Target Audience: Policymakers with an interest in learning how to improve policies, programs, and communications through behavioral science. Ideal participants will have access to an interest in making changes and improvements to institutional policies at different levels.

Qualifications: Participants will be senior level representatives from the relevant ministries. Prior knowledge of the field is not required, but an interest in learning innovative approaches to complex policy problems is encouraged.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: Policymakers are increasingly turning to the behavioral sciences to tackle intractable policy challenges. Behaviorally informed policy emphasizes the importance of context for decision making and behavior. It examines a wide set of influences, paying attention to the social, psychological, and economic factors that affect what people think and do. It addresses details in bureaucracies, technologies, and service delivery that are often overlooked in standard policy design but that dramatically influence the effectiveness of development programs and projects, especially in low-income contexts. Behaviorally informed policy can provide creative solutions to difficult challenges, often at low cost. Finally, it helps policymakers themselves avoid some of the decision traps and biases that affect all individuals.

The course is Led by staff from the World Bank’s Mind, Behavior, and Development team. This course will provide practitioners with concrete tools and guidance for diagnosing, designing, and implementing behaviorally informed projects and policies.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms. Abigail Dalton, Operations Officer, at: adalton1@worldbank.org

Local Currency Bond Market Development (LCBMDv)

Target Audience: Officials from debt management offices, central banks, and regulators who deal with topics related to the securities markets.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance, or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course will train officials in the building blocks for local debt market development and the sequencing of policies for developing local debt markets. The building blocks will include primary and secondary markets, money market and associated market infrastructure. The workshop will also cover the primary issuance mechanism and strategies, and regulations governing the debt market and will discuss the challenges faced by these countries in developing their local debt markets.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Assess the main challenges to deepening a local debt market.
• Formulate effective policies and practices for the primary and secondary market that support market development.
• Explain the need for coordination with a range of government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
• Describe the importance of connected markets for the development of the government bond market.

Trade Policy (TP1v)

Target Audience: Government officials involved in WTO negotiation matters.

Qualifications: More precise information will be provided closer to the course date and will also be posted on the CEF website.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: WTO courses, presented by experienced staff, cover specific issues related to WTO agreements. They cover the legal and economic foundations of WTO rules, explain legal and institutional provisions of specific WTO agreements and rules, explore how the WTO agreements affect trade-related economic policies, and how the WTO serves in resolving trade disputes.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Samer Seif El-Yazal, at: samer.seif@wto.org

Government Finance Statistics – Fundamental (GFS-Fv)

Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compilating and disseminating fiscal statistics.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics, or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Statistics Department, focuses on both the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and on practical aspects of data compilation. Basic concepts, accounting principles, and detailed classifications are dealt with in the context of the new methodology, which is harmonized with the system of national accounts. The course examines GFS coverage and accounting rules (including accrual accounting), valuation, classification, debt, balance sheets, and the sources and methods used for compiling the statistics. It also deals with reporting data to the IMF. Central to the course is a series of case studies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Explain the basic concepts, definitions, and accounting principles in the integrated GFS framework.
• Classify basic government flows and stock positions according to GFSM 2014 and compile the relevant GFS statements and tables.
• Apply general principles to classify an entity in the public sector and in relevant subsectors, such as the general government and public corporations.

Exchange Rate Policy (ERPv)

Target Audience: Junior to mid-level officials who work with exchange rate policy and analysis.

Qualifications: Participants should have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent professional experience and be comfortable with Excel and Excel-based applications. Before taking this course, it is recommended that applicants take either the Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) or the Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDS) course. Participants should also have a working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and EViews.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course gives a comprehensive overview of exchange rate analysis and policy. The first part:

• Introduces key definitions and concepts used in exchange rate analysis, such as real exchange rate misalignment;
• Discusses how changes in the real exchange rate may affect external adjustment and growth;
• Presents methodologies to estimate the equilibrium real exchange rate and explains the IMF external balance assessment (EBA) approach to measure the degree of real exchange rate misalignment; and
• Covers several aspects related to foreign exchange (FX) intervention: objectives, modalities, effectiveness, ways to assess the adequacy of foreign exchange reserves, and their management.

The second part of the course covers the macroeconomic policy tradeoffs related to different exchange rate regimes, the choice of exchange rate regime, and the main exchange rate policy challenges in developing and emerging market economies, such as the use of hybrid regimes, forced and unforced exits from pegs, and the reasons behind “fear-of-floating.”

The course concludes with a discussion of currency crises, macroeconomic policies to prevent them, and the analytical tools used to anticipate them.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Assess whether FX reserves are adequate using standard and new indicators of reserve adequacy.
• Assess the effectiveness of interventions in the FX market, using case studies of interventions.
• Measure the degree of real exchange rate misalignment using different models and methods, including the EBA.
• Construct systems for early warning of currency crises using data on nominal exchange rates and international reserves.
• Estimate the probability of experiencing a currency crisis using panel data econometric techniques.
• Customize models and techniques taught in this course (including EBA, reserve adequacy metrics, early warning systems) to home country data and use those that are relevant to their work for policy analysis.

Participants will also be able to:

• Describe the exchange rate regime choice and how country-specific features could influence the choice.
• Identify policy inconsistencies that may lead to currency crises.
• Identify policy measures to prevent them.

Boosting Women’s Access to More and Better Jobs in MENA (WEEv)

Target Audience: This course is designed for senior level government officials and technical representatives from national ministries in MENA directly contributing to the Women Economic Opportunities agenda through their portfolio, as well as representatives from other relevant multi-sectoral platforms (e.g. social funds, national women machineries) engaged in the gender and jobs agenda. Three representatives from each country will be selected.

Qualifications: Participants will be senior level representatives from ministries of Labor, Economy, Industry, Social Protection, Health, Education, Agriculture or Women Affairs, playing a decision-making role in the design, implementation, oversight and/or evaluation of national projects, programs or policies related to women’s economic participation.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The objective of this proposed workshop is three-fold: (i) provide participants with a thorough understanding of key challenges/constraints facing females in joining and staying in the labor market in MENA; (ii) understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s economic participation; and, (iii) share knowledge and best practices on innovative interventions aimed at improving women’s economic opportunities, specifically focused on childcare provision, entrepreneurship, legislation and gender diversity in the workplace. . As women’s participation in the labor market is increasingly becoming a priority for governments in MENA, this proposed course is intended to provide participants with the knowledge and inspiration to strengthen country level policies and programs that directly contribute to creating a more enabling environment for women’s economic participation.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms. Nahla Zeitoun, Senior Social Protection Specialist, at: nzeitoun@worldbank.org, Ms. Jonna Maria Lundvall, Senior Social Scientist, at: jlundwall@worldbank.org and Ms. Angela Elzir Assy, Labor Market Specialist, at: aelzir@worldbank.org

Cyber Risk Supervision – Path to Operational Resilience (CRSv)

Target Audience: Financial sector supervisors and regulators with responsibilities that include cyber risk regulation and / or supervision at central banks and agencies charged with supervising financial institutions.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have at least one-year of experience in general regulation and supervision of financial institutions.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department, provides an introductory to intermediate level of training on cyber risk regulation and supervision to non-specialist financial sector supervisors.

The course: (i) reviews recent trends in the technology adopted by supervised entities, the evolving threat landscape and their implications for cyber risk and financial stability; (ii) outlines the key elements of cyber risk regulations; (iii) discusses supervisory approaches and tools; and (iv) presents key cybersecurity concepts, covering governance, risk assessment, and information sharing, based on international standards and best practices.

Sessions will focus on providing practical lessons and tips that can be used by regulators and supervisors, as part of their daily supervisory activities. The sessions will be instructional, as well as interactive, through group exercises, case studies and information sharing discussions.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the basics of information technology solutions used in financial institutions, the cyber threat landscape, key characteristics of cyber risk and its place in the enterprise-wide risk management framework;
• Define and summarize the key components of cyber risk regulation and sound approaches to supervising cyber risk; and
• Understand the financial stability implications of cyber risk and have an insight on ways to enhance the cyber resilience of the financial sector.

High-Frequency Indicators of Economic Activity (IEAv)

Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling short-term or monthly economic indicators in central banks and statistical offices.

Qualifications: Participants should have a degree in economics, statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, will examine elementary indicators and the techniques for combining them into a single overall index of economic activity to track trends in the economy. Flash estimates or indexes of economic activity bring together a range of specific economic elementary indicators to give timely overall measures of economic activity. Such measures give useful information to policy makers complementing the annual and quarterly GDP estimates (which are more comprehensive but usually only available after substantial lags) and provide a more comprehensive picture than a set of individual monthly and quarterly indicators (which are up-to-the-minute but reflect just a portion of the total economy).

This course is oriented toward actual or potential compilers of short-term indicators in central banks and statistical offices as well as those involved in data collection of monthly indicators. Participants are expected to use available monthly and quarterly time series in the practical session to develop experimental estimates. 

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Develop a simple framework to compile an index of economic activity, from collection of source data to implementation of simple statistical methods and index compilation techniques.
• Exploit useful short-term information contained in the IEA by applying some analytical tools, deriving tables, and statistical procedures.

Fiscal Sustainability (FSv)

Target Audience: Junior to senior officials with some intermediate fiscal background who are interested in understanding and applying fiscal sustainability analysis and how it may relate to the country-specific macro-fiscal environment.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or equivalent work experience and some familiarity with using spreadsheets.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course looks at fiscal sustainability as a requirement for macroeconomic stability and sustainable and inclusive long-term growth. It provides a thorough overview of how to assess fiscal sustainability from a policy and tools perspective. The course also discusses long-term fiscal pressures as well as fiscal risks and the early warning indicators used by the IMF and covers debt management strategies. Special attention is given to fiscal crises and the subsequent fiscal adjustments.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe why fiscal sustainability is central to macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth;
• Apply effective concepts, definitions, and techniques for analyzing fiscal sustainability;
• Identify fiscal vulnerabilities, distinguishing between near-term risks and long-term pressures;
• Analyze crisis and fiscal adjustment cases;
• Differentiate between various debt sustainability analysis (DSA) frameworks; and
• Prepare a DSA for a country with access to financial markets or for a low-income country.

Improving the Understanding of Corruption Risks to Boost Prevention and Detection (CORPv)

Target Audience: Anti-corruption experts from MENA countries, representing anti-corruption authorities. Other relevant law enforcement authorities that have a role in detecting corruption (such as financial intelligence units) are also invited.

Qualifications: Mid-to senior level anti-corruption experts from MENA countries, representing anti-corruption authorities. Other relevant law enforcement authorities that have a role in detecting corruption (such as financial intelligence units) are also invited.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, organized by the OECD and hosted by the IMF Middle East Center for Economics and Finance, aims to facilitate the exchange of practical experiences and good practices among anti-corruption bodies responsible for combating corruption in the MENA region. It will provide an opportunity to examine and build on existing practices that already exist within the region and beyond. The course will include expert presentations including real life case studies, working groups and plenary discussions on best practices. Seminar topics will include, for example:

• Corruption risks.
• Effective means to detect and report corruption.
• The importance of inter-agency cooperation in the detection and reporting of corruption.
• Mechanisms for the protection of whistle-blowers.
• Supporting good business practices.

At the end of the event, participants will also be invited to consider potential follow-up events/activities for anti-corruption practitioners from the MENA region.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Ms Solène Philippe, at: solene.philippe@oecd.org

National Accounts Statistics - Measuring the Non-Observed Economy (NOEv)

Target Audience: The workshop is intended for government officials who are integrally involved in the compilation or utilization of national accounts statistics. Participants should be national accounts statistics compilers, suppliers of statistics that are used to compile national accounts statistics, or users of national accounts statistics for official policy-making purposes.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The workshop is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Workshop Description: This workshop is intended to broaden participants’ understanding of the framework, concepts, definitions and estimation methods regarding the non-observed economy. The workshop will cover the following topics:

• Definition and scope of the non-observed economy.
• Non-observed economy and informal economy: Delineation and overlaps.
• Standard estimation practices to determine the level and growth of the non-observed economy.
• New techniques, new technologies, and new potential data sources.

The workshop follows the principles and recommended practices in the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA); the handbook on Measuring the Non-Observed Economy. It will also take account of the presentations on country practices delivered at the 7th IMF Statistical Forum: Measuring the Informal Economy.

Workshop Objectives:  Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

• Define the types of activities that fall within the non-observed economy.
• Identify data sources that may be used to improve coverage of the non-observed economy.
• Apply methods and techniques to measure the non-observed economy.

Safeguards Assessment of Central Banks (SACv)

Target Audience: Central bank officials serving on governance and oversight bodies, and/or senior central bank staff responsible for accounting, financial reporting, auditing, risk management, internal control, legal, or reserve management operations.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a university or postgraduate degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or law, or have earned professional certifications in auditing (chartered or certified public accountants, internal auditors, information systems auditors) or finance (certified financial analysts).

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Finance and Legal Departments, is designed to give central bank officials interactive exposure to the IMF safeguards assessment methodology. It has a special focus on central bank governance and highlights the importance of independent oversight, transparency and accountability for improving financial safeguards. It also provides a forum for central bank staff to exchange views on their experiences in reinforcing safeguards and governance frameworks and dealing with emerging issues. The course incorporates interactive lectures and discussions, workshops, and case studies addressing crucial assessment areas, especially external and internal audit mechanisms, financial reporting, the system of internal controls, management of international reserves, and reporting of monetary data to the IMF. The course also reviews the concepts underlying autonomy and good governance in central bank legislation.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Assess the strengths and vulnerabilities of their central banks’ safeguards and governance frameworks;
• Identify specific steps to improve financial safeguards;
• Use leading practices for central banks in the areas of good governance, central bank autonomy, accountability, and transparency; and
• Describe and explain the requirements of the IMF safeguards policy and the importance of implementing safeguards recommendations.

Policies for SMEs and Access to Finance in the MENA Region (SMEv)

Target Audience: Government officials in line ministries or agencies in charge of Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and entrepreneurship policies, access to finance and private enterprise development policies. Representatives from private sector organizations with an important SME constituency are also welcomed to apply.

Qualifications: Participants should be in charge of the design, implementation and evaluation of SME and access to finance policies.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The course is conducted by a team of OECD and international experts. The first part of the course focuses on SME policy aspects such as criteria for official SME definitions, initiatives to improve the business environment, monitoring and evaluation of policies, SME statistics, etc. The second part is devoted to access to finance, including access to credit and equity finance. The course also includes modules on innovative and high potential enterprises. It combines active discussions, the presentation of experiences from participants and practical exercises.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Gain knowledge on the different elements and institutional set-ups of SME policy;
• Analyze the importance of improving the regulatory and legal environment for access to finance and discuss specific mechanism to facilitate access to finance;
• Present the practices and experience of their own institutions and learn from peers; and
• Expand their professional networks.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Jorge Galvez Mendez, at:  jorge.galvezmendez@oecd.org

Regional SPS Workshop for Arab Countries (SPS)

Target Audience: Government officials (i) holding direct responsibilities in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area (i.e., SPS notification authority or enquiry point; Codex, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) or World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) contact points; and officials from a relevant ministry in charge of coordinating SPS matters and international trade) or with a strong interest in the SPS area; and (ii) possessing an intermediate level of understanding of the principles and structure of the WTO, and of the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement.

Qualifications: Preference will be given to those candidates that have successfully completed the WTO SPS e-Learning Course (see Section 1 of G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11 regarding enrolment in the e-Learning Course).

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: Through presentations, poll questions, Q&As, and practical exercises conducted by WTO staff, the workshop will enhance participants' understanding of the WTO SPS Agreement, including types of SPS measures and key SPS disciplines, provide an overview of the work of the SPS Committee as well as topical SPS issues and their importance to trade, and allow participants to familiarize themselves with the WTO SPS transparency tools as well as with the work of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). The workshop will also provide an opportunity for government officials working on SPS matters to establish contact with their counterparts in other countries of the region, facilitating the exchange of information and the sharing of best practices related to the implementation of the SPS Agreement.

Candidates must fill in and submit the online application form which is available at:

https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/p7esflz0bwpkkb/

Candidates should complete and submit the online application form by Friday 15 October 2021.

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to Mr. Samer Seif El-Yazal, at: samer.seif@wto.org

Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development in a Post COVID-19 World:  Take a Breath - Facing off with Climate Change (CCv)

Target Audience: The audience includes senior policy makers and technical experts from ministries of finance, economy, planning, (or equivalent), relevant line agencies, researchers, academicians associated with the design and implementation of national sustainable development strategies, sector strategies, investment programs; and environment and climate change policies and action plans in MNA countries.

Qualifications: Prior knowledge of the science behind and impacts of climate change on the economy and social cohesion is desired but not required. Interest in learning about climate change in MNA and solutions to address climate change by exploring viable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation and boost climate action is encouraged.

Language: The course will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation to Arabic.

Course Description: The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise with devastating impacts on countries’ economies and societies. In contrast, impacts of climate change have been modelled and projected notwithstanding, mitigation efforts so far have proven inadequate. Acknowledging the importance of managing climate risks and reducing social and economic vulnerabilities is important to build equity, foster inclusion, address structural inequalities, leverage new technology, and create new jobs opportunities. The green, resilient and inclusive development (GRID) agenda supports a new paradigm to ensuring economic, environmental, and social sustainability which puts the fight against climate change at its center.

The objective of the seminar is to provide an opportunity for participants to learn, deliberate and share knowledge on developing evidence-based policies and innovative strategies related to building resilience and mitigating potential impacts from climate change to national economic welfare and prosperity; social cohesion and environmental sustainability. A detailed seminar description and final agenda will be circulated to each participant closer to the event date.

Content of the course builds around key pillars:

i) Moving post-Covid – green, resilient, inclusive development;

(ii) promising approaches to address climate change;

iii) climate budgeting, and climate finance;

iv) MNA-specific priority actions in climate change adaptation and mitigation, with examples of international best practices and

iv)  scope for regional collaboration on green, resilient and inclusive recovery with an overview of initiatives in MNA countries and beyond.  

For additional information concerning the content of the course, please address your inquiries to: Ms. Andrea Kutter, Sr. Environmental Specialist (akutter@worldbank.org); Ms. Rama Chandra Reddy, Sr. Environmental Economist (rreddy1@worldbank.org); and Ms. Helena Naber, Sr. Environmental Specialist (hnaber@worldbank.org)

Monetary Policy (MPv)

Target Audience: Junior to mid-level officials from emerging markets and low-income countries interested in understanding and analyzing the conduct of monetary policy and its interaction with the rest of the economy.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience and be comfortable using Microsoft Excel and Excel-based applications. This is an overview course. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed a few general macroeconomic courses, such as Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) and Macroeconomic Diagnostic (MDS), face-to-face or online.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course gives a comprehensive overview of monetary policy regimes, monetary transmission mechanisms, and the role of monetary policy in macroeconomic stabilization. The course bridges the gap between theory, empirical evidence, and operational experience by illustrating the optimization problems and tradeoffs involved in monetary policy decisions. The learning process moves from lectures introducing the basic concepts to hands-on workshops. Case studies are used to reinforce participant understanding and to help them compare and assess a variety of experiences.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze how monetary policy decisions are made under various regimes to deliver price stability.
• Identify how these decisions are transmitted to the real economy.
• Evaluate how the economy and monetary policy respond to macroeconomic shocks under various monetary policy frameworks, demonstrated through a group presentation to their peers.
• Central bank practitioners should also be able to:
• Design a sound monetary policy framework.
• Prescribe policies consistent with the framework chosen.

Inclusive Growth (IGv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials involved in economic and strategic planning; monitoring and evaluating policy strategies for reducing poverty and inequality; and promoting job creation.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or social sciences or equivalent experience. It is strongly recommended that applicants have taken the online Financial Development and Financial Inclusion (FDFIx) course.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course is designed to increase participants’ understanding of the concepts of inclusive growth and give them analytical and operational tools to evaluate, measure, and monitor how macroeconomic policies can affect growth, poverty, inequality, and job creation. Lectures introduce the basic concepts of inclusive growth, with a special focus on long-term sustainability, and workshops offer participants an opportunity to apply the concepts and think about the design of inclusive growth strategies, drawing from country case studies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Interpret measures of poverty and inequality;
• Analyze the role of macroeconomic policies in promoting growth and equality and reducing poverty;
• Identify obstacles to inclusive growth and prioritize reforms; and
• Design an inclusive growth strategy for their own country.

Formulating and Implementing a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDSv)

Target Audience: Officials from debt management offices, ministries of finance, or central banks who deal with public debt management.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance, or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, aims at building capacity in developing and implementing a sound medium-term debt management strategy (MTDS). Officials are trained on the joint IMF-WB MTDS framework which is useful for illustrating government cost and risk tradeoffs associated with different debt management strategies and for managing the risk exposure embedded in a debt portfolio, in particular, the potential variation in debt servicing costs and its budgetary impact. Officials analyze cost-risk trade-offs of alternative debt management strategies, utilizing the MTDS analytical tool (MTDS AT) developed by the IMF and WB, taking into account the composition of the debt portfolio, macroeconomic indicators, market conditions, potential sources of financing, and the linkages with broader medium-term macroeconomic framework. Officials use a selected strategy to then work on MTDS implementation with an annual borrowing plan template.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the steps in developing an MTDS (the IMF-WB MTDS framework).
• Analyze the central government debt portfolio to identify the costs and risks inherent in the existing debt.
• Formulate different market risk scenarios (baseline and shock scenarios), adapting them to the country’s specific situation.
• Identify and assess various financing strategies under these scenarios and compare the cost/risk trade-offs involved.
• Use the quantitative MTDS analytical tool that accompanies the MTDS framework.
• Present the results of the analysis in a manner that enhances its value for policy purpose.
• Formulate a strategy that is in line with debt management objectives.
• Design an annual borrowing plan for the first two years of the strategy period.

Vulnerability Diagnostics (VDSv)

Target Audience: Officials of all levels in central banks, ministries of finance, and other governmental agencies with macro-fiscal units (e.g., cabinet office, parliament), who monitor and assess country-wide and regional multisectoral vulnerabilities and risks.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience, a basic background in econometrics, and familiarity with the use of software for econometric applications.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course complements the Macroeconomic Diagnostics (MDS) course by enhancing participants’ ability to assess fiscal, financial, and external vulnerabilities in an integrated fashion, using several diagnostic tools to capture tail risks.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Assess risks using fiscal, financial, external, and real sectors’ vulnerability indicators;
• Describe how vulnerabilities can morph into distress, leading to crises as a result of adverse shocks or a flawed policy mix;
• Use diagnostic tools (including tools currently employed in IMF surveillance), to track multi-sectoral vulnerabilities and predict indicators of tail risks; and
• Adapt diagnostic tools, (organized as templates of country vulnerability reports), to their country data.

Financial Programming and Policies (FPPv)

Target Audience: Officials from ministries of finance, economy, planning and central banks who advise on or help implement macroeconomic and financial policies.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or equivalent experience and be proficient in the use of spreadsheets. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Programming and Policies, Part 1: Macroeconomic Accounts and Analysis (FPP.1x) or the online Financial Programming and Analysis, Part 2: Program Design (FPP.2x) course.

Language: The course is conducted in Arabic.

Course Description: This course explains how to diagnose macroeconomic imbalances and correct them through a coordinated set of adjustment policies. It covers the principal features of the four main macroeconomic sectors (real, fiscal, external, and monetary) and their interlinkages, highlighting both accounting and behavioral relationships and using data from a country case study.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze economic and financial developments of a country in the region using historical data and a hands-on, Excel-based framework;
• Create consistent one-year macroeconomic projections on the assumption that policies do not change;
• Identify economic vulnerabilities and risks in a baseline scenario and policy measures to address them;
• Prepare an adjustment scenario that reflects the policy measures and their macroeconomic impact; and
• Identify further policy goals and measures beyond the one-year horizon that will be incorporated into a medium-term framework.

eMoney and Mobile Payments (EMMv)

Target Audience: Mid- to senior-level officials working in the payment and technology departments at the central bank and in positions with similar responsibilities.

Qualifications: Participants should have experience in the operations and oversight of payment systems.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, aims to provide a framework for understanding eMoney and mobile payments. This course begins with a definition of eMoney, discusses trends in the use of different means of payment including cash, and reviews recent developments in the area of eMoney and mobile payments. The course then discusses the pros and cons of eMoney, explores the conditions for eMoney adoption, and investigates the business models of mobile payment service providers.The course ends with a detailed discussion of macro-financial implications, of ensuing risks, and of the regulatory responses that should follow.

The course is designed to be interactive by using a combination of lectures, case studies/simulations, and panel discussions. Moreover, the course would require participants to engage in self-assessment exercises based on systematic procedures. Also, participants would apply material from the course to a hypothetical country to clarify/formulate an overall fintech payment strategy and action plan. After the hands-on self-assessment experience, results are discussed through group presentations and de-briefings. (Note: The course may be subject to further changes to accommodate remote delivery).

Consumer Price Index-Advanced (CPI-Av)

Target Audience: Compilers of consumer price indexes (CPIs).

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics; or equivalent experience.

Language: Course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the Statistics Department, is intended to broaden participants’ understanding of the concepts and methods of compiling CPIs. It provides an overview of the index number theory and its practical implications in terms of choosing the index number formula at lower and higher levels of aggregation. The course covers the sources and methods for developing weights and sampling areas, items, outlets, and varieties. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. Linkages to the 2008 SNA are highlighted, including the related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation.

The course covers the following topics:

• calculating elementary and upper-level indexes;
• methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing prices;
• introducing new outlets, items, and varieties;
• adjusting prices for quality changes;
• chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and
• meeting data users’ needs to ensure relevancy.

The course follows the principles and recommendations of the CPI Manual (2020).

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Apply recommended index calculation methods.
• Apply methods for dealing with such index compilation challenges such as unavailable items, quality change, and keeping an index up to date.
• Assess how well a CPI meets international guidelines for best practice.

Thinking through Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCv)

Target Audience: Mid- to senior-level officials working in the payment, legal, technology, monetary policy, and financial stability departments at the central bank and in positions with similar responsibilities.

Qualifications: Participants should have experience in the operations and/or oversight in one or more of the following areas: payments, legal, technology, monetary policy, and financial stability.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, aims to provide a framework for balancing pros and cons of CBDC issuance and guiding design options. This course focuses on the high-level CBDC decision-making and project management process. The course is designed to be interactive by using a combination of lectures, case studies/simulations, and panel discussions. Lectures focus on the CBDC decision-making process that should be viewed as dynamic and iterative with multiple feedback loops to gradually evaluate the relevance of CBDC.

The self-assessment exercises are based on systematic procedures and cover use cases, pain points, requirements, solution, feasibility, proof of concepts, and pilots. Participants, after gaining a basic understanding of the decision-making process, apply them to a hypothetical country to understand thoroughly the problem to be solved and the full array of solutions. After the hands-on self-assessment experience, results are discussed through group presentations and de-briefings. (Note: The course may be subject to further changes to accommodate remote delivery).

Fiscal Policy Analysis (FPAv)

Target Audience: Junior to senior officials interested in understanding fiscal policy and its macroeconomic implications.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have taken undergraduate courses in macroeconomics or have equivalent experience and have a basic background in microeconomics and econometrics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the Financial Programming and Policies (FPP) course.

Language: The course is conducted in Arabic.

Course Description: This course provides an overview of the concepts and techniques used to analyze how fiscal policy can help ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable long-term growth. This hands-on course is built around the core macrofiscal topics needed to analyze fiscal policy. The learning units include general empirical findings, Microsoft Excel-based workshops, case studies, and selected topics of regional interest. The course will be of interest to officials who wish to better understand how fiscal policy can affect the economy and the related tools of analysis.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Use fiscal policy to attain key government objectives: macro-stability, equity and efficiency, and sustainable long-term growth;
• Use the tools and techniques acquired to assess the country’s fiscal stance, fiscal multipliers, and debt sustainability; and
• Assess the key elements of tax and expenditure policy.

Topics in Financial Inclusion (FIv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials from central banks and government agencies dealing with regulation of the financial sector. Preference is given to applicants working on issues directly related to financial development and inclusion.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of economics or finance, or equivalent work experience. Knowledge of econometrics is helpful but not required. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed the online Financial Development and Financial Inclusion (FDFIx) course.

Language: The course is conducted in English only. Due to the technical nature of the course, English proficiency is a prerequisite.

Course Description: This course explains the macroeconomic relevance of financial development and inclusion. Beginning with an analysis that defines the role of finance in the economy, the course reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of finance on macroeconomic performance and growth. It also addresses policies to encourage financial development (market-enabling policies) and limit its potentially destabilizing effects (market-harnessing policies).

The course introduces financial inclusion as an integral dimension of financial development—a perspective that has only recently received proper attention because for many years the discussion instead centered on the concept and measurement of financial depth. The course reviews the indicators currently used to measure financial inclusion, its distinct macroeconomic impact, and the main policy strategies usually pursued.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Measure the degree of financial development and inclusion for a country or countries using a wide range of standard indicators;
• Identify the shortcomings of various indicators and recognize the possible need to collect more detailed microeconomic data;
• Use a simple analytical model to predict the likely outcomes of different policies on financial inclusion;
• Assess policy options and strategies for financial development and inclusion from a macroeconomic perspective by identifying potential tradeoffs and possible impediments; and
• Formulate a strategy for policies to support financial development in a country, taking into account initial conditions and links between the financial sector and the macroeconomy.

Financial Market Infrastructures: Principles and Practices (FMI-PPv)

Target Audience: Mid- to senior-level officials working in the payment systems oversight departments of central banks and in positions with similar responsibilities.

Qualifications: Participants should have experience in the operations and oversight of financial market infrastructures (FMI), such as payment systems, securities settlement systems, and central securities depositories.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, focuses on the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMI), which aim to enhance safety and efficiency in payments, clearing, settlement, and recording arrangements, and more broadly, to limit systemic risk and foster transparency and financial stability. The course is designed to be interactive by using a combination of lectures, case study simulations, and panel discussions. Lectures focus on the 24 principles and 5 responsibilities for authorities under the PFMI, the Disclosure Framework, and Assessment Methodology, and topical issues on cyber resiliency, distributed ledger technology, and digital innovations.

Participants, after gaining a basic understanding of the standards, apply them to a hypothetical country to assess the level of compliance of its payment system, securities settlement system, and central securities depository. Moreover, the self-assessment exercises are based on targeted principles and cover legal basis, credit risk, collateral, default management, liquidity risk, central securities depositories, money settlements, general business risk, and operational risk. After the hands-on self-assessment experience, results are discussed through group presentations and de-briefings. (Note: The course may be subject to further changes to accommodate remote delivery).

External Debt Statistics (EDSv)

Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is the compilation of external debt and/or international investment position (IIP) statistics.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics, statistics, or equivalent experience; have basic knowledge of international accounts concepts; and have a minimum of one year of experience in compiling external debt statistics (EDS) or IIP statistics.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, is intended to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the international standards for the compilation of EDS presented in the 2013 EDS: Guide for Compilers and Users (EDS Guide). It also offers practical compilation guidance on data sources and techniques for compiling EDS, as well as on analysis of these data, taking into account the relevant developments in the global financial market. It comprises a series of lectures, practical exercises, and case studies that cover:

• Recent developments in the global financial market and their effect on EDS compilation;
• Implementation of the 2013 EDS Guide and ensuring consistency and comparability among external debt statistics and other macroeconomic statistics, namely balance of payments, IIP, government finance statistics, and national accounts;
• Data validation and assessment of the quality of EDS; and
• Data dissemination and requirements of the World Bank's Quarterly External Debt Statistics (QEDS) database.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe recent developments that affect EDS.
• Apply the conceptual framework for the compilation of EDS following the 2013 EDS Guide.
• Identify data gaps and set up a strategy for improving the EDS compilation.
• Describe linkages of EDS with other macroeconomic datasets.

Macroeconomic Management in Resource-Rich Countries (MRCv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials from central banks, ministries of finance, and other government agencies tasked with the design and execution of policies in resource-rich countries (RRCs).

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have an advanced degree in economics or equivalent experience and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel. It is strongly recommended that applicants have first completed the online Macroeconomic Management in Resource-Rich Countries (MRCx) course.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course discusses macroeconomic policy issues and challenges faced by RRCs. The course provides participants with an understanding of: the macroeconomics of growth and diversification,; managing fiscal policy management,; macroeconomic policy  coordinationcoordination,; and managing public-sector assets management in RRCs. The course incorporates lectures, hands-on workshops, debates, and case studies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Analyze economic performance in resource-rich countries, including in terms of growth, inclusiveness, diversification, and sustainability.
• Design appropriate fiscal frameworks, applying suitable fiscal benchmarks to determine whether to consume, save, or invest the proceeds from the sale of natural resources.
• Identify the appropriate macroeconomic policy responses to commodity price shocks.
• Design policies to promote greater transparency in the management of natural resources, including in terms of the appropriate institutional structures for sovereign wealth funds.

Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIv)

Target Audience: Officials at central banks and supervisory agencies for the financial sector who are involved in the collection, compilation, and analysis of FSIs.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or statistics or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation to Arabic

Course Description: This virtual training course, presented by the Statistics Department, acquaints participants with the fundamentals of compiling and using FSIs in support of macro-financial surveillance. It covers methodological and technical issues in the construction of FSIs, as discussed in the 2019 Financial Soundness Indicators Compilation Guide (2019 FSI Guide). The virtual training takes an interactive approach using hands-on exercises in discussing the main topics as follows:

• Preparation of the sectoral financial statements and compilation of FSIs for deposit takers.

• Regulatory framework for deposit takers.

• Accounting principles and data consolidation for the compilation of FSIs for deposit takers; and

• Overview of key points and changes in the 2019 FSI Guide.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Prepare the sectoral financial statements and compile FSIs for deposit takers in accordance with the methodology of the 2019 FSI Guide.
• Prepare or update FSI metadata using the concepts acquired on accounting principles and regulatory framework for deposit takers.
• Interpret FSIs for macro-financial surveillance.

AML/CFT Regulation and Supervision of Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPv)

Target Audience:  The course will be particularly useful for:

• Policy makers responsible for the introduction of AML/CFT laws and policies for the VASP sector;

• AML/CFT supervisors and risk analysts;

• Investigators and prosecutors responsible for the enforcement of the ML offence and other financial crimes; and

• FIU analysts.

Qualifications: Participants will be expected to have experience and current responsibilities in the following areas:

• Preparation/drafting of laws for AML/CFT (including the VASP sector)

• AML/CFT supervision

• Investigation/Prosecution of ML and financial crimes

• FIU intelligence analysis

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The course will examine the key concepts of Virtual Assets (VA) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), and the ways in which risks related to VA can be assessed, along with the elements required for an effective AML/CFT legal framework. Licensing/registration, preventative measures and supervision will be covered, with particular emphasis on how they apply to the VASP sector. The way in which VA might change how financial intelligence is processed and financial crimes are investigated and prosecuted will be discussed along with the challenges posed by VA for asset confiscation.

Course Objectives: Course participants will be given a good understanding of: the key pillars of an AML/CFT legal framework for VA and VASPs; the basic requirements of a “Financial Action Task Force compliant system” for the licensing/registration and supervision of the VASP sector; and how VA may necessitate changes to the ways in which this class of property needs to be dealt with for AML/CFT enforcement purposes.

Policies Related to COVD-19 Measures (PCMv)

Target Audience: Senior staff and managers of GCC banking supervision authorities in charge of regulation, supervision, resolution and financial stability.

Qualifications: Participants are expected to have a degree in economics or finance, or equivalent experience.

Language: The course is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: The workshop will address policy issues raised by COVID-19 that fall into two distinct topics:

1.     Banking system oversight. Unwinding COVID-19 special regulatory and supervisory measures applicable to the banking sector, such as loan moratoriums, easing of prudential and supervisory requirements, and supporting liquidity needs. The workshop will provide banking supervision Authorities of GCC member countries with general advice including benchmarking experience, covering main relevant issues to consider. Any country-specific concerns or challenges may later be addressed bilaterally through follow-up engagement with MCM experts.

2.     Cybersecurity. Steps that GCC regulators can take to better protect themselves and the financial institutions they regulate from cyber-attacks considering the rapid adoption of digital technologies in response to the pandemic. The workshop will provide expert guidance on cybersecurity policy and management in the financial sector.

Tax Policy and Administration: Theory and Practice (TPATv)

Target Audience: Senior officials from ministries of finance and tax administrations whose responsibilities include advising ministers on tax policy issues or managing tax administration, or officials from central banks working in areas related to the design of tax system. Their duties are likely to include policy analysis and evaluation; drafting policy memos; drafting tax laws; and in tax administration managing organizational issues, strategic planning, information technology, and other major operational functions.

Qualifications: Participants involved in policy areas are expected to have a degree in economics, law, or a related field, and experience in producing analytical reports. Participants involved in tax administration areas are expected to be senior managers from the top two levels of their agency.

Language: The course is conducted in English with interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description: This course, presented by the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, is designed to broaden participants’ knowledge of the main difficulties for government in designing, administrating, and monitoring of a modern tax system. Due to its remote delivery (and time restrictions), it focuses on the most important design features of tax systems and their implementation. It thus briefly outlines the theoretical underpinnings of tax policymaking and discusses practice and implementation with an emphasis on the region the course is directed to. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences on improving their tax systems and how they are administered. Through lectures and Q&As, the course will:

• Provide an overview of policy design principles and their implications for tax administration—establishing linkages between tax policy and administration and how each function feeds into the other;
• Review design issues for major taxes that form modern tax systems (e.g., broad-based consumption and income taxes, environmental taxes, and small business tax regimes), and discuss approaches to tax policy making in specific economic settings, such as resource-rich countries and fragile and conflict-affected countries;
• Review tax administration management and governance issues, drawing on experiences within and beyond the region; and
• Discuss tax compliance challenges across taxpayer segments and tax types, and risk mitigating methodologies.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Summarize key tax policy design principles and their implications for tax administrations, such as how to link tax policy and tax administration; how each function feeds into the other; and how design principles may differ in different economic settings.
• Identify the core elements of the major taxes in modern tax systems, such as broad-based consumption and income taxes or small business tax regimes.
• Recognize the impact and consequences of specific policies usually in place in some countries (reduced rates, exemption, tax incentives, delay in refund tax credits such as VAT, restrictions to input tax deductions in the VAT or expenses in the CIT, etc.).
• Understand the main problems affecting international taxation and the tools to reduce them (transfer pricing regulations, exchange of information among countries, etc.).
• Describe and analyze the organization of tax administrations, their principal functions, and common barriers to their reform.
• Understand tax administration good practices, including those related to tax enforcement.
• Identify the main tax compliance risks and understand how to address them. 

Understanding, Assessing and Managing Fiscal Risks (UAMFRv)

Target Audience: Mid-level to senior officials in ministries of finance and economy, treasuries and debt management offices, or other government offices involved in assessing and managing fiscal risks.

Qualifications: Participants should have relevant experience in fiscal policy, budgeting, treasury and debt management, and fiscal risk management and have knowledge of excel.

Language: The course is conducted in English with interpretation into Arabic.

Course Descriptions: This course, presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), forms part of FAD’s Fiscal Risk Work Program, discusses key institutions that help governments better understand, monitor, and manage risks to public finances. It provides an overview of the key sources of fiscal risks, approaches to analyzing and mitigating them, and institutional arrangements for dealing with them. It also and provides an overview of FAD’s Fiscal Risk Toolkit which comprises a range of practical excel-based tools to assist countries in analyzing and quantifying their fiscal risk exposures, as well as training on the application of some of the newest tools in the Toolkit. The course provides: a general overview of the toolkit; discusses different approaches to assessing the impact of macroeconomic risks, such as volatility in commodity prices, on public finances and budgetary mechanisms to help manage uncertainty; and provides an introduction in the application of some of the newest tools in the Toolkit. It also discusses standards for reporting and disclosing fiscal risks.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Define fiscal risks and contingent liabilities and identify their key characteristics
• Identify the main fiscal risks a country may face and assess and prioritize these risks according to their relevance
• Understand the main techniques and approaches used to assess macro-fiscal and risks from specific sources
• Identify institutional arrangements that support effective fiscal risk monitoring and management
• Understand the key elements and content of a fiscal risk statement