Over 250 pensions professionals from 15 African countries have attended our pensions governance and investment training programmes in the last three years. Although many African citizens never qualify for a pension, pensions reform and governance is increasingly important throughout Africa for a variety of reasons. Increasing longevity, urbanisation - reducing access to informal support for the aged in rural communities, overly generous and unsustainable public service pensions and the importance of pensions as a means of mobilizing savings for investment all contribute to the growing focus on pensions in Africa.
As with all Crown Agents training programmes our pensions courses draw on our practical experience. Crown Agents Bank administers and pays nearly 15,000 pensioners in over 50 countries and Crown Agents Investment Management is an investment manager for pensions funds. Using this experience and our flair for designing dynamic interactive training programmes we launched our first pensions training courses over 10 years ago and since then the demand for courses has remained constant.
Looking ahead to 2011 we have enhanced our programme by addressing the theme of longer term sustainability of pensions, looking at the wide ranging changes that need to be made if pensions promises are to be met in the future.
A diverse range of organisations attend our courses including government officials, regulators, trustees, professional advisers, private sector and parastatal sponsors and union officials. The diversity of participants' experience and nationalities ensures the programmes are peppered with lively debate. One of the central themes is good communications, which aims to overcome the general antipathy and distrust many people have towards pensions. Participants engage in a communications case study, working in groups to design a communications strategy, with a prize being awarded to the best group. This always encourages some lively and enjoyable competitive spirit.
Our programme for 2011 will include the following venues:| Delivering Sustainable Pension Schemes: Advanced | UK | 26/09/2011 | 07/10/2011 |
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| Delivering Sustainable Pension Schemes | Nigeria | 11/04/2011 | 15/04/2011 |
| Delivering Sustainable Pension Schemes | Trinidad | 27/06/2011 | 01/07/2011 |
| Delivering Sustainable Pension Schemes | Kenya | 05/09/2011 | 09/09/2011 |
| Delivering Sustainable Pension Schemes | Dubai | 05/12/2011 | 09/12/2011 |