The International Real Property Foundation is pleased to announce that we have received a Modification to the cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the amount of $850,000. The grant will support IRPF’s work under two main proposals: The implementation of an East Africa Regional Training Center and extended activities in South Africa.

The proposal for the East Africa Regional Training Center was a result of assessments conducted by Norm Flynn and consultant Steve Giddings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Kigali, Rwanda in March, 2009 and in Kampala, Uganda back in August, 2008. Assessment findings led to a proposal to form a regional center, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya that would address market needs in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda and help facilitate training to establish a cadre of local instructors.

The East African Regional Training and Administrative Center program is a mechanism to deliver technical assistance at an affordable price for newer associations in Uganda and Rwanda and the established one in Kenya. IRPF anticipates that each country will be autonomous and self-contained even though services will be operationally channeled through this regional center. The plan is to offer core programs to strengthen the institutional capacity in each association through a) evaluating strategic planning and business plans, b) reviewing membership development, c) identifying value-added services, and d) discussing the potential for a data aggregation program.

After delivering a round of courses in South Africa to over 350 learners in 2008, with the new funding received, IRPF will offer a second round of courses for Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDIs) in South Africa aimed at helping them secure licenses. IRPF plans to work with the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA) in this endeavor.

IRPF is grateful for the continued support of USAID and eager to get programming in Africa underway.