The Centre Ouest Africain de Formation et d’Études Bancaires (COFEB) and HEC Paris recently organized a ceremony to award certificates to 56 participants who completed the "Certificat Executive Management Stratégique Bancaire niveau 1" (CEMSTRAT 1) program. The program aimed to strengthen the skills of banking executives in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) region. The ceremony was held in Dakar, Senegal, and was attended by Fernand ABOUTOU, Advisor to the Director General of COFEB, and Armelle DUFOUR, Director of International Strategic Projects at HEC Paris.
The CEMSTRAT 1 program was designed for operational executives and department heads in the banking and financial sector, as well as public administrations. The seven-month program, which ran from May 13 to November 2, 2026, was taught by a team of professors and experts from HEC Paris. The program used a hybrid approach, combining online learning and in-person sessions, and culminated in a group project presentation. The participants came from banks and financial institutions in UEMOA member states.
The program was developed to address the challenges facing the banking sector in the region, particularly in the context of digital economy and its implications. The COFEB and HEC Paris partnership aims to provide banking executives with the skills and expertise needed to manage their institutions effectively. The program is part of a broader effort to promote excellence in management and strategy in the banking sector.
A second program, CEMSTRAT 2, is also available, targeting senior executives, including CEOs, Deputy CEOs, and members of management committees. This program aims to strengthen their strategic expertise in areas such as digital economy, green finance, and their implications. The two programs offer a comprehensive view of strategic banking management, combining leadership, strategy, innovation, and transformation.
The partnership between COFEB and HEC Paris has been successful, with over 700 executives having benefited from certification programs in management, human resource management, strategic banking management, and digital transformation since 2013. The double certification offered by CEMSTRAT 1 and 2 is also recognized in the Global Executive Master in Management (GEMM) program at HEC Paris, providing African executives with a unique international academic pathway.
HEC Paris is a European business school founded in 1881, known for its commitment to positive impact on business and society. The school has approximately 160 researchers and over 4,500 students from 110 countries. COFEB, on the other hand, is the training center of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), created in 1977 and transformed in 2019 to expand its mission to research and partnerships.
The COFEB and HEC Paris programs are designed to support the development of African banking executives, with a focus on strategic management and leadership. The programs have been recognized for their quality, with HEC Paris ranked number 1 in Executive Education by the Financial Times for two consecutive years.
Key points
- The COFEB and HEC Paris partnership has trained over 700 executives in certification programs since 2013.
- The CEMSTRAT 1 and 2 programs offer a comprehensive view of strategic banking management, combining leadership, strategy, innovation, and transformation.
- The double certification offered by CEMSTRAT 1 and 2 is recognized in the Global Executive Master in Management (GEMM) program at HEC Paris.
