ApexFinCoop is built on a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO).   FAO, ILO and ITC-ILO set out to develop a comprehensive training package and strategic planning programme that moved beyond targeting grassroots institutions to specifically focus on cooperative apex organizations and other support institutions.

A number of relevant key organizations active in the financial cooperative domain were consulted in the course development process.

The ApexFinCoop course has the following objectives:

• To broaden understanding of the various functions that contribute to successful performance of apexes as member based institutions
• To assist apexes in improving effectiveness of current service delivery
• To inspire thinking around services and products that might be necessary to meet the members’ growing needs
• To stimulate thinking and arrive at good practices around an enabling environment 

The e-learning course will be implemented over a period of 2 weeks and is structured around 5 content modules. Each content module contains a technical webinar and a self-learning module with activities and assignments. Two more webinars are planned as opening and closing sessions.

Self-learning modules can be taken flexibly, while the webinars will be scheduled as live sessions with invited speakers (recordings will be available). Total duration of the course: 30 hours.

• Module 1: Introduction. Strategic direction and trends. Apex’s lifecycle
• Module 2: Sustainability and triple bottom line.
• Module 3: Apex’s products, services and shared services
• Module 4: Managing risks
• Module 5: An Enabling Policy, Legislative and Regulatory Environment and the role of apexes

• This is your time to think through your apex’s strategy and operations in underserved markets, exchange ideas with the peers confronted with similar challenges.
• The course can serve as an orientation programme for newly appointed managers of various levels and board members
• The course is practical in nature, providing real tools and insights (including – on technological innovations) and drawing out the wisdom and experience already gained by the industry.

Limited number of full and partial scholarships are available for applicants with relevant profiles. Scholarships are provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Early applications are encouraged. Please specify your scholarship request in the “financing” section of the registration form.

Groups of applicants from the same institution are encouraged to apply in order to use the course as an opportunity to reflect on the apex’s strategies and operations during and after the course. Several full and partial scholarships are available for this purpose, as well as group discounts.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of participation (attendance).

Seven Zoom sessions are foreseen. Timing will be planned to accommodate participants form various regions and timezones. In case of conflicting timezones, 14.00 CET (ROME time) will be taken as a preferred timezone. Each webinar’s duration is 1 hour 30 minutes or 1 hour 45 minutes.

Contact mmw@itcilo.org to obtain a detailed timetable.

The course is offered in English. 

Programmes in Spanish and French may be offered upon request.

ITC ILO programme in Social Finance

• If you wish to receive updates on Social Finance training programmes of the ITC ILO, sign up for the news here choosing Social Finance from the list of suggested themes.
• The ITC ILO portfolio of courses on Social Finance theme is available on the ITC ILO Social Finance page.