ERRA Survey - AFUR

AFUR Professional Development Survey (Skills Audit) 

Please ONLY fill in one form for each organisation. AFUR initiated inhouse 

training in 2011 and wants to align the training program for 2013 – 

2015 with the specific training needs of its members, hence the survey. 

Name of organisation 

Address of organisation: 

________________________________________________________________ 

Telephone no. 

Fax No.: 

Email: 

Web page (if any) 

1) What sectors do you regulate (Please tick the relevant sector/s) 

Energy Telecommunications Transport Water and Sanitation 

2) What type of organisation are you 

Government Autonomous Other Please state 

________________________________________________________________ 

3) Number of staff employed full time in your organisation : 

4) Are there at present any consultants or have any consultants worked 

with your 

Organisation to assist you in its development 

Yes No Don’t know (Please tick)

5) In which (AU) Africa Region are you based (Please tick) 

Northern Region Southern Region Central Region 

Western Region Eastern Region 

6) Language preferences (Please tick relevant) 

English French Portuguese 

7a) Which country/countries do you prefer trainers/lecturers to come from: 

USA, South Africa, Europe, Canada, South America 

7b) Which countries do you prefer to train in South Africa, USA, Europe, 

Japan, South America, Ghana, Canada. 

8) What type of regulation does your organisation do (Please tick) 

Economic Health Safety Technical Others 

Please 

specify___________________________________________________________

9) Please fill in the form below on behalf of your regulatory organisation. If 

you would like to include any additional information, there is space 

available at the end of the table or write overleaf. 

Knowledge 

Building a regulatory body 

9.1 The responsibilities, roles, 

objectives and priorities of a regulatory 

body 

9.2 Understanding utility market reform 

– private participation and liberalisation 

9.3 The reason for regulation – 

including regulation of monopolies, 

markets financial constraints, 

incentives for efficiency 

9.4 The different types of regulatory 

methods - primary and secondary 

legislation, licences and concessions 

9.5 Different types of regulation – 

including regulation of public compared 

to private companies, regulating the 

market compared to regulating the 

conduct of companies. 

9.6 The limitations of regulation 

9.7 Funding a regulatory body 

9.8 Choosing members of the Board – 

(qualifications and experience needed) 

9.9 Selecting managers and staff 

(qualifications and experience needed) 

9.10 Developing a code of ethics 

9.11 The organisations and institutions 

which should be involved with 

regulation 

9.12 Building a staffing structure for a 

regulatory body 

9.13 Maintaining independence of 

regulatory bodies 

How important is this 

knowledge to your 

organisation 

Please insert a 

number 

1 = Not important 

2 = Somewhat 

important 

3 = Important 

4 = Very important 

How much knowledge does 

your organisation currently 

have in relation to these 

matters 

Please insert a number. 

1 = No one has any 

knowledge 

2 = Some people have a 

little expertise but they 

need a higher level of 

knowledge 

3 = Although some people 

have good knowledge there 

are others who need 

training 

4 = The organisation has all 

the expertise it requires

9.14 Methods for ensuring 

accountability of regulatory decisions 

Knowledge 

Market structure and competition 

9.15 Understanding the nature of the 

utility market – natural monopolies and 

competition 

9.16 Approving the rules of the market 

and competition 

9.17 Ensure that any restructuring or 

consolidation of companies providing a 

utility service is compatible with 

effective competition 

Technical matters 

9.18 Financial Analysis – Net Present 

Value Concepts, basic financial 

statements, determining the cost of 

capital 

9.19 Regulating Overall Price levels 

9.20 Controlling pricing when users 

have no choice of supplier 

9.21 The role of government in tariff 

setting, the need to consider social, 

economic and environmental issues 



organisation 


number 


2 = Somewhat 

important 

3 = Important 





matters 



knowledge 




knowledge 




training 



9.22 Different options and 

methodologies for setting tariffs –the 

rate of return and price cap 

methodology, alternative incentive 

mechanisms, using the regulatory 

framework to increase the quality and 

quantity of investment 

Non price aspects of regulation 

9.23 Regulating utilities to protect the 

natural environment 

9.24 How traditional reforms have 

affected the poor, regulating services 

for poor people including unique 

solutions for the private sector, defining 

poverty, identifying poor consumers, 

involving the poor in reform, payment 

methods for poor people. 

Knowledge 

9.25 Regulate conditions for accepting 

or refusing access to utility services, 

including rules for litigation, sanctions 

and fines. Ensuring non discriminatory 

access to services 

9.26 Developing standards relating to 

health and safety 

9.27 Regulating the quality of the 

supply of utility services 

Information issues (IT etc) 

9.28 Identifying information 

requirements, information technology, 

improving data quality, benchmarking, 

information systems for external 

groups 



organisation 


number 


2 = Somewhat 

important 

3 = Important 





matters 



knowledge 




knowledge 




training 



Regulatory processes 

9.29 Making good regulatory decisions 

9.30 Reviews of and appeals against 

regulatory rules and decisions -– legal 

processes and procedures 

9.31 Maintaining good public relations 

with users of utility services 

9.32 Maintaining good relations with 

government, investors, consumers and 

other interest groups 

9.33 Knowing the role of advisory 

bodies 

9.34 Responding to consumer 

grievances 

9.35 Knowing how to communicate to 

the public - developing a public 

communications strategy, public 

hearings 

9.36 Negotiation techniques and 

strategies 

9.37 Critically reviewing company 

plans to provide utility services 

including knowledge of financial 

matters in relation to new investments

Other knowledge required 

Please write in (continue overleaf if required) 

Are there any other general training needs that your organisation may have 

Does your organisation have any specialised sector training requirements 

10 What does your regulatory organisation need to do in the next 24 

months

Training 

11 In which knowledge areas do staff and managers in your organisation 

most 

require training over the next 2 years (Write overleaf if required) 

Knowledge area (please use the 

number codes from the above table or 

write in if your requirements are from 

the “Other knowledge” section) 

Some more 

understanding 

needed 

Formal 

accredited 

learning needed 

(Diploma/degree 

standard) 

12 Which four training methods would be most useful to your 

organisation 

Training methods 

University based training 

In - house training 

Workshops/seminars 

Apprenticeships/internships 

Exchange programmes 

Distance learning 

Video conferencing 

Reference and resource based learning (internet) 

Innovative practice case studies through a training provider 

Publications (Reference library) 

Other (please write in) 

4 only

13 How does your organisation pay for training 

Method 

There are no funds for training 

Staff members pay for themselves 

The organisation has a training budget 

The organisation seeks funding from local or central 

government funds 

The organisation seeks funding from international donor 

agencies 

Other (Please write in) 

Please tick all 

that apply 

14a 

Approximately how big is your organisation’s budget in US dollar 

equivalents 

14b 

If your organisation has a training budget, approximately how big is 

the budget in US dollar equivalents 

15 How many utility companies does your organisation regulate 

__________________________________________________________ 

16 What are the biggest problems that utility regulators face in your 

country at the moment 

In order to serve your needs, or to contact you if we need to clarify any 

responses, your name and country would be useful (but optional on your part) to 

know: 

Name: .................................. 

Position: .......................................... 

Country: ......................................... 

Please feel free to contact the Secretariat at: 

info@afurnet.org

14 PLEASE COULD YOU COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SECTION FOR YOURSELF ONLY – NOT YOUR 

ORGANISATION 

(If you have undertaken training in regulatory matters please complete this table) 

Name of institution Topic Location 

(Country) 

Payment method 

e.g. paid by self 

Rating 

excellent, 

good, 

acceptable 

poor 

Usefulness of 

training to your 

work: excellent, 

good, 

acceptable poor 

Type of 

training e.g 

seminars, 

university 

etc 

10

ERRA Survey - AFUR

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