(Ecofin Agency) - The International Monetary Fund has launched an online training for the general public on macroeconomic management in resource-rich countries. Led by the IMF Institute for Capacity Development, the IMF's Public Finance Department and the Statistics Department, the program focuses on macroeconomic policy issues and challenges facing resource-rich countries.

The course is intended for officials from central banks, ministries of finance and other public bodies involved in policy development and implementation. It requires from its participants a knowledge of economics and Excel software. The main language of learning is English. Registration started in early November and remains open until April 1, 2020.

The initiative has a triple objective which are to determine how the economic performance of resource-rich countries may differ from that of other countries; apply fiscal rules on the extraction and transparent management of the proceeds of the sale of natural resources and the third is to define the macroeconomic measures needed to respond to commodity price shocks.

The proper management of natural resources in Africa is, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the only alternative for the continent to benefit from the social and economic advantages inherent in this wealth.