Financing Infrastructure in African Cities (Coursera)

The reason is that, their governments do not have enough money. This may also be true also for the city where you live or work. Poor infrastructure affects your daily life. Local governments struggle with mobilizing finances so that they can improve your quality of life but many times they are not aware of the right mechanisms.

Imagine that your government wants to know how can they finance cities and they want you to advise – where will you begin with? Our finance experts are bringing their experience right at your Desk through this MOOC. This MOOC has five modules and in five weeks you will learn:

• Financial decision making environment in urban systems

• Mechanisms for mobilizing local revenues

• Innovative mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects through partnerships, and

• Financial decision making under uncertainties and risks

We will provide you a carefully selected set of literature, quizzes and interactive discussion forums. So join our MOOC and find out the ways to make your city a better place to live in for yourself and for your next generations.

(This MOOC was developed in collaboration with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa), African Local Governments Academy (ALGA), and Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Syllabus

WEEK 1: Introduction to Urban Finance

WEEK 2: Financing Current Expenditures

WEEK 3: Financing Capital Expenditures

WEEK 4: Financial Decision Making for Municipal Governments

WEEK 5: Capstone Project