Sovereign Debt Management Training Course

The course begins with the institutional foundations of debt management before moving into hands-on debt sustainability analysis using standard international methodology. Participants then examine the cost and risk trade-offs across domestic and external borrowing instruments, including Eurobond issuance and credit ratings, before finishing with contingent liabilities and the practical mechanics of sovereign debt restructuring.

The Sovereign Debt Management Training Course is a five-day programme that equips debt management office and finance ministry professionals with the practical tools to manage sovereign borrowing responsibly. Rising public debt levels across Africa have placed debt management squarely at the centre of fiscal policy, making sound sovereign debt management skills more valuable than ever. Participants leave able to conduct debt sustainability analysis, structure borrowing strategy and, where necessary, navigate sovereign debt restructuring negotiations.

Several African sovereigns have restructured or renegotiated debt in recent years, and credit rating agencies, bondholders and multilateral lenders are all paying closer attention to how governments manage borrowing decisions. Debt management professionals who can run a credible sustainability analysis and structure a defensible borrowing strategy are now central to a country's fiscal credibility, not a back-office function.

• Explain the objectives and institutional arrangements of a modern debt management office
• Conduct a debt sustainability analysis using standard international frameworks
• Evaluate the cost and risk trade-offs of different sovereign borrowing instruments
• Assess domestic versus external borrowing strategies for financing fiscal deficits
• Analyse the mechanics of sovereign bond issuance, including Eurobonds
• Understand the process and options for sovereign debt restructuring
• Evaluate contingent liabilities and their impact on overall public debt exposure
• Design a medium-term debt management strategy aligned with fiscal policy objectives
• Assess the role of credit rating agencies in sovereign borrowing costs

This course is designed for:

• Debt management office staff
• Ministry of finance officials
• Central bank staff working on public debt
• Public financial management practitioners
• Development partner country desk staff
• Treasury officials
• Staff preparing sovereign credit rating submissions

The course combines structured teaching with hands-on analytical work, including running a debt sustainability analysis on sample country data, structuring a borrowing mix against a real financing gap, and simulating a sovereign debt restructuring negotiation in facilitated small groups.

By investing in this programme, organisations can:

• Strengthen institutional capacity to manage sovereign debt sustainably
• Improve borrowing decisions to reduce long-term debt service costs
• Reduce fiscal risk through effective contingent liability management
• Improve coordination between debt management offices, ministries of finance and central banks
• Strengthen credibility with credit rating agencies and international investors
• Build institutional readiness to identify and respond to debt distress early
• Improve transparency and reporting of public debt to legislatures and citizens
• Strengthen overall public financial management and fiscal credibility
• Reduce dependence on external advisers for debt strategy and restructuring negotiations

Upon completing this programme, participants will be able to:

• Build debt sustainability analysis skills aligned with international best practice
• Strengthen confidence in engaging with credit rating agencies and investors
• Build the capability to lead or support sovereign bond issuance processes
• Strengthen negotiation skills for sovereign debt restructuring
• Improve the ability to advise senior officials on borrowing decisions
• Enhance career opportunities across debt management, treasury and fiscal policy
• Expand professional networks across debt management institutions and development partners
• Strengthen the ability to interpret and critically assess debt sustainability analyses
• Increase confidence in presenting debt strategies to senior leadership and policymakers

At Strategic Revenue Africa, our certification goes beyond proof of attendance—it represents practical competence and measurable capability. Upon successful completion of our training programs, participants are awarded a Certificate of Completion from Strategic Revenue Africa, recognizing their ability to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. As an organization focused on architecting sustainable revenue and strengthening organizational performance, our certifications signal that participants are equipped with skills that drive results, not just theory.

No prior debt management experience is required, though participants should have a working understanding of public finance or macroeconomics, typically gained through a role in a ministry of finance, central bank or related public financial management function.