The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is one of several development finance institutions in South and Southern Africa. Its purpose is to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development by funding physical, social and economic infrastructure. Through its Development Fund (DBSA DF) , the institution’s vision is to be a leading catalyst in institutional capacity building in order to maximise the impact of development finance in South Africa.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is one of several development finance institutions in South and Southern Africa. Its purpose is to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development by funding physical, social and economic infrastructure. Through its Development Fund (DBSA DF) , the institution’s vision is to be a leading catalyst in institutional capacity building in order to maximise the impact of development finance in South Africa.The DBSA DF through the Industrial Development Corporation, South Africa (IDC) received financing to build institutional and human capacity at local government level, and help to create opportunities for local economic development. In a bid to go beyond South Africa and spread this model to the rest of Africa, the Fund identified three Universities; Makerere University Kampala, The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) , Burkina Faso and the Vitz University, Johannesburg South Africa to help implement this.
It was against this background DBSA DF team led by the Chairperson of the Board; Prof. Brian Figaji paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor on Monday 15th March 2010, to discuss matters relating to a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and DBSA DF. Also constituting the team was Dr. Paul Kiyingi Kibuuka, Divisional Executive; Siyenza Manje, DBSA and Reuben Mottola, Executive; Pan-African Capacity building Partnership.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs, Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, who met the team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor thanked Prof. Figaji and the DBSA DF for identifying Makerere to serve as a center of excellence for the delivery of the Executive Masters Programme in Water, Sanitation and Environmental Management. She appreciated how well the DBSA DF initiative fits in with past and present programs offered by Makerere to build capacity at Local Government levels. “Owing to the Central role that Makerere has previously played in building Capacity, having the university as a strategic partner would therefore ensure that a broad range of partners would be invited at various stages of implementation of the programme.”
Prof. Brian Figaji, a former Vice Chancellor himself at the Peninsula Technikon in Cape Town shared how the team had carefully set out to develop a model that would enable African Universities to participate at the core of any collaborations with universities outside Africa. This he added would help to build sustainable human, institutional and
Economic capacities, relevant to local needs. The model, which proposes uniform course modules and teaching staff exchanges across the three participating universities, hopes to leave behind a legacy of professionals spanning across the African continent. This network of professionals it’s predicted; will be key in sharing experiences to furnish solutions to African development challenges.
Prof. Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza commended the dawn of this partnership, as for a long time, there have been more of North-South collaborations than South-South ones.
General7 days ago
Business & Management6 days ago
Health2 weeks ago
General6 days ago
General1 week ago