(START) WORKSHOP – 3rd Edition
The Research Centre at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Ghana (AIMS Ghana) hosted the 3rd Edition of the Stochastic and Applications, Research and Training (START) workshop scheduled from February 17 to 21, 2020 at AIMS Ghana in Accra. The workshop focused on stochastic optimal control in both discrete and continuous time.
Developed to increase cooperation among researchers and research institutions, the workshop, organized with the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Ministry of Education and Research, brought together renowned international and national scientific researchers, as well as young researchers and graduate students working on disciplines related to probability theory, financial and actuarial mathematics, insurance, mathematics, statistics, and economics. START included two mini courses, research talks and poster presentations.
Participants acquired the knowledge on the importance of research collaboration, the researcher’s role within the research innovation value chain, transforming ideas into outstanding research proposals, seeking funding for projects, presenting research results to academic and non-academic audiences and developing attractive cover letters and curriculum vitae.
Organizers
– Olivier Menoukeu Pamen, AIMS Ghana; U Liverpool
– Ralf Wunderlich, U Cottbus-Senftenberg
Application and Requirements
Thanks to the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Minister of Education and Research, and AIMS Ghana, there are no registration fees for students and faculty members.

Ralf Wunderlich
BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg, Germany
Abstract:
Title: Continuous-Time Stochastic Optimal Control with Applications to Finance
The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to continuous-time stochastic optimal control problems and to study an application to dynamic portfolio optimization financial markets. First we will review some underlying tools from stochastic calculus such as continuous-time stochastic processes, martingales, stochastic integration, Itô’s formula, stochastic differential equations and Dynkin’s formula. Based on these concepts we will then formulate a general stochastic optimal control problem which we will solve using the dynamic programming approach. Finally, we solve a specific portfolio selection problem for a utility maximizing investor.
Biography
Ralf Wunderlich is a Full Professor in Financial Mathematics at the Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus, Germany. His scientific interests include Probability Theory, Stochastic Finance, Optimal Stochastic Control and Portfolio Optimization. He holds a Diploma in Mathematics from the Chemnitz University of Technology where he received his PhD in Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics in 1992 and his Habilitation in Stochastic Analysis in 1999. He held positions as Professor of Mathematics at Zwickau University of Applied Sciences from 2003-2011, as a substitute for a chair of Stochastics at Martin-Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg from 2002-2003 and as a Assistant Professor at Chemnitz University of Technology from 1993-2002.

Nicole Bäuerle
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Abstract:
Title: Markov Decision Processes with Applications
The theory of Markov Decision Processes focuses on controlled Markov chains in discrete time.
In these lectures we establish the theory for general state and action spaces and at the same time show its application by means of numerous examples, mostly taken from the fields of finance and operations research.
We cover problems with finite and infinite horizon, as well as stopping problems. The lecture is based on the book “Markov Decision Processes with Applications” jointly written with Ulrich Rieder.
Biography:
Nicole Bäuerle is a Full Professor in Probability at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Prior to this, she was Professor for Insurance Mathematics at the University of Hannover and she received her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Ulm. Up to now she has supervised more than 100 Master thesis and 13 PhD thesis.
She is editor of SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, the Applied Probability Journals and Statistics and Risk Modeling. Her research interests lie in Stochastic processes and optimal control, Markov Decision Processes, stochastic orderings and applications in finance, insurance and energy.

Sure Mataramvura
U Cape Town, South Africa
Abstract
Title: An optimal reinsurance management and dividend payout strategy when the insurer’s reserve is an Itô-Lévy process
We consider the problem of an insurer who decides to allocate a proportion (1 – a(t)) of premiums to a re-insurance company (thereby retaining a proportion a(t) of premiums). The insurer also has to pay dividends c(t) at any time t to shareholders. If the insurer’s reserve is x(t) given by the modified Cramèr-Lundberg model that allows for jumps, we solve a dual optimal policy of a dividend payout scheme for shareholders with constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) preferences and retention level of received premiums for the insurance company. We set the problem as a stochastic control problem and solve the resulting HJB equation . We find that the optimal risk level and dividend payout can never depend on time and that they are directly proportional to the reserve process.
Biography:
Professor Sure Mataramvura, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
He is also the current Deputy Dean of Research and Internationalization in the Commerce Faculty.
With a Ph.D in Mathematics of Finance, his main research interests focuses on risk minimization, Mathematics of insurance and general topics of applications of stochastic calculus to finance which include derivative pricing and hedging.

Babacar Mbaye Ndiaye
U Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal
Abstract:
Title: Optimal control and numerical study of revenue, investment and exploitation
Some models and optimization methods for decision support allow to define strategies of production, management of stocks and exploitation. The proposed methodology mixed optimal control techniques and combinatorial optimization, and help producers and policymakers to increase the long-term production and logistics of the cashew nut sector in Senegal. We propose a methodology to solve the revenue, investment and exploitation issues of the cashew nut sector in Senegal. The stakes are immense: (i) optimal stock planning (ii) optimal production planning (iii) investment reorganization (iv) exploitation of exhaustible natural resources. Numerical simulations on real data in Casamance show the performance of the approach.
Biography:
Babacar’s research focuses on Global optimization – Theory, algorithms and applications (via cutting plane, Branch&Bound, DC (Difference of Convex functions) Programming, DCA (DC Algorithm), Senegaulois algorithm & local search algorithms). In 2010, his team proposed a new way to study linear programming which is a major tool in optimization. They gave a proposal of algorithm to solve linear programming problem in quadratic time from a basic idea which allow to obtain an approached solution with desired accuracy. In 2015, his research team was recognized for the Data Crossing Prize (Using mobile phone data for Spatial Planning simulation and Optimization Technologies (SPOT)) during the D4D Big data challenge.

Youssef Ouknine
U Cadi Ayyad, Morocco
Abstract
Title: Reflected BSDE driven by Markov pure jump process and representation of solutions of variational inequalities and optimal stopping
This lectures concern reflected backward stochastic differential equations driven by non-homogenous Markov pure jump processes with absolutely continuous compensators. Our approach is based on Snell envelope and specific properties of pure jump processes with respect to the canonical filtration completed and regularized. We solve some specific variational inequalities with nonlocal term.
Biography:
Youssef Ouknine is a Professor at the Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. He’s also an affiliate professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Africa Business School, Ben Guerir, Morocco.

Patrice Takam Soh
U of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Abstract:
Title: Estimation of a CIR Process with Jump using a Closed Form Approximation Likelihood under a Strong Approximation of Order 1
We propose here an approach in order to estimate parameters of CIR model with jumps in the case where the distribution of jump amplitude belongs to the quadratic exponential family. In fact the distribution of the jump can be different from one phenomenon to another one. Therefore, it is of particular interest to explore different cases in the view of getting the most appropriate and suitable one. The method of estimation we propose here is based on the approximation of the closed form of transition density. Since the CIR does not have an explicit solution, it is approximated by the second order Milstein scheme in order to have a more accurate approximation. Simulations are performed and allow to observe that when the distribution of the jump amplitude is either Poisson or Normal, results of estimation are closer to the characteristics of the initial process compared to other distributions. An empirical example indicates the appropriateness of the estimation procedure used compared to existing methods.
Biography:
Patrice Takam Soh is a senior lecturer at the University of Yaoundé I (Department of Mathematics) where he has been teaching Probability and Statistics for almost 10 years. In the field of research, he made his first steps in statistical modelling of cocoa pod rot disease (during his Ph.D thesis). Then he worked for several years on the asymptotic properties of GARCH models (in theoretical econometrics). For the last 03 years, he has been working on dynamic modelling in deterministic (SIR type models) and stochastic (CIR with jumps). It should be noted that in these models, Patrice is interested either in the numerical approximation of the solutions or, more importantly, in the estimation of the parameters in these models.
First name | Last name | Institute |
---|---|---|
Abdoulue M | Bah | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Abekah Huk Cedric | Koffi | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Abigail | Baidoo | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Abiodun Esther | Osikoya | University of Ilorin, Nigeria |
Alakme Tégnon Kossi | Lakmon | University of Abomey-Calavi (Ecole Superieur d’Actuariat), Togo |
Angela | John | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Rwanda |
Aurelien Junior | Noupelah | University of Dschang, Cameroon |
Awura Amma Adomaa | Danso | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
Babacar | Ndiaye | Cheikh Anta Diop University |
Benard | Nyaare | Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya |
Bernard | Effah Nyarko | Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany |
Bridget Sena | Borbor | University of Mines and Technology, Ghana |
Carmelle Raissa | Chango | Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Benin |
Daniel | Aidoo-Mensah | Methodist University College, Ghana |
David | Adedia | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
Edward | Korveh | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Ekow | deGraft-Johnson | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Esther | Gyasi Opoku | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Ezekiel Nii Noye | Nortey | University of Ghana, Ghana |
Festus Kofi | Attor | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Francis | Agana | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Godfred | Nsabo | Blossom Academy and Analytics, Ghana |
Hanson Dela | Quarshie | University of Ghana, Ghana |
Irene Kafui | Vorsah Amponsah | University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Isaac Kwasi | Asante | University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Jane Esi | Monkah | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Building & Road Research Institute, Ghana |
Jean Auguste | Muhau | New Horizons University, Democratic Republic of Congo |
Joel | Bamfo-Appiah | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Justin | Ushize Rutikanga | Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Benin |
Kettie Susan | Nthakomwa | Centre for Social Research, Malawi |
Kofi Agyarko | Ababio | Kumasi Technical University, Ghana |
Kora Hafiz | Bete | Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physiques, Benin |
Latévi Mohamed | Lawson | Université de Lomé, Togo |
Margret | Tembo | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Mariam | Olateju | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Mary | Akinade | Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria |
Matthias | Dogbatsey | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Michael | Manford | Cape Coast Technical University, Ghana |
Michael | Fosu Ofori | Kumasi Technical University, Ghana |
Michelle | Berwa | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Monica Yemoley | Anang | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
Moustapha | Dieye | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Nicole | Bäuerle | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
Odaudu Reuben | Etubi | University of Ibadan |
Ogundijo | Gbemisola | University of Ibadan |
Olivier | Menoukeu Pamen | AIMS Ghana | University of Livierpool |
Patrice | Takam Soh | University of Yaoundé I |
Paul | Agbekpornu | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Paul | Python Ndekou Tandong | Cheikh Anta Diop University |
Paul | Asare | University of Ghana, Ghana |
Perpetual Andam | Boiquaye | University of Ghana, Ghana |
Rahmatu | Babah | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Ralf | Wunderlich | Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany |
Rhoda | Mahamah | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Rhoss B. | Likibi Pellat | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Richard | Minkah | University of Ghana, Ghana |
Sandra | Addai-Henne | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
Sorelle Murielle | Toukam Tchoumegne | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Steeven Belvinos | Affognon | Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences Innovation and Technology |
Stephen | Kemboi | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Suleman | Nasiru | University for Development Studies, Ghana |
Sure | Mataramvura | University of Cape Town, South Africa |
Volviane Saphir | Mfogo | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
William | Obeng-Denteh | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
Yolande Vanelle | Ngueabou | African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana |
Youssef | Ouknine | Cadi Ayyad University| Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco |
Partners:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Organizers:
Olivier Menoukeu Pamen, AIMS Ghana; U Liverpool
Ralf Wunderlich, U Cottbus-Senftenberg
For further enquiries, contact Rhoda Mahamah by email, telephone. The contact details are as follows:
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Ghana
Summerhill Estates,
East Legon Hills – Accra, Ghana
Tel.: +233-549-699-160
E-mail: rhoda@aims.edu.gh