Training

What We Offer

The role of financial markets in driving the transformation towards a low-carbon climate resilient economy is fundamental to the efficient implementation of global ambitions in the post-Paris Agreement phase. Realising a successful transformation requires thought leaders to understand and critically analyse the key aspects of private capital engagement at various levels and from different sources. One of the Centre’s primary goals is to equip thought leaders with the necessary skills to improve access to clean energy and climate finance in developing and emerging economies – both in the sense of personal advancement and in the wider context, defined as the development of countries.

Our on-site and online programmes help you to systematically and successfully develop your qualifications and to build your career while recognizing the social function of education.

Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance – Online

The programme is designed to build skills and expertise at the intersection of finance, sustainability and economic development. You will combine a grounding in some core areas of finance and leadership with a range of electives from the portfolio of our e-Campus certification courses.

Highlights:

  • 18 – 24 months/ part-time/ self-study
  • Self-paced: Flexibility to study at your convenience
  • Customize your degree with two tracks and a choice of several electives
  • International: Benefit from a highly diverse class and lecturers who are active all around the world
  • Gain insights at the forefront of academic research, market practice and policy
  • Networking: Benefit from many opportunities to interact with your peer students and your lecturers
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E-Learning

E-learning makes it easy to stay abreast of recent developments in the field and gives you freedom to learn whenever and wherever you want. Based upon on-campus programms and project experiences, our e-learning programme utilises a blend of interactive content, videos, script, case studies and online discussions to explore the science and business responses to climate change. The FS-UNEP Centre provides four online courses focusing on climate and sustainable finance, each resulting in a globally acknowledged certificate.

Our online certification programmes are 6-month part-time trainings, designed to be conducted along full-time work or other obligations. Apart from a few deadlines, the courses follow a very flexible approach, allowing participants to follow their own study schedule. The flexible part-time training concept is implemented through the training platform Frankfurt School Development Finance e-Campus. After successful completion of one of the courses (each 6 ECTS credits), participants will receive a Certificate by Frankfurt School, one of the leading business universities in Europe.

Further training opportunities

The EU Taxonomy is a key building block of sustainable finance in Europe. It aims identify environmentally sustainable economic activities. Disclosure regulations and demand for sustainable products create the need for financial institutions to understand and operationalise the EU Taxonomy.

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The Experts of the FS-UNEP Team have supported the design of the Master Programme “Leadership in Sustainable Finance”. The programme is designed for (emerging) leaders who are passionate about finance and the role finance plays as a catalyst for sustainable economic development and equitable and environmentally conscientious growth in economies worldwide – in other words, how to finance and manage a better future for all. By aligning the online academic programme more closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our aim is to provide a more flexible approach for those students who are interested in following a track in either green finance or development finance. This part-time (60 ECTS) programme has eight modules with four core modules and for the remaining modules, allows students to choose from several elective courses to fit more closely to their desired track. The students will be required to complete the Project Work (Master Thesis) which provides them with the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge gained during the programme. The programme starts each year at the beginning of September.

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The Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance Academy is the Centre’s most established educational course. It gives participants the chance to take a leading role in the climate finance story.

The 5-day training based in Frankfurt am Main has been designed for international public and private sector practitioners. It offers a comprehensive framework and best practices on sustainable finance. A unique blended learning approach is applied, covering theoretical knowledge, applied research, and practical experience from project implementation delivered through senior educators and practitioners who share academic, technical and financial expertise. The course discusses regulatory trends, the risk and impact perspective of sustainable finance and different opportunities in terms of products and services for the financial sector. Our course offer the opportunity to build a solid foundation in sustainable finance.

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Climate change stands as one of the defining issues of our time, presenting risks and opportunities for both the financial sector and the global economy.  Within this context, financial institutions play a crucial role in steering the transition towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development, including aligning portfolios with Paris-compatible financing, integrating climate-related risks, and harmonising short-term cycles with long-term thinking.

Recognising the existing knowledge gap and the growing significance of Climate Change Adaptation Finance in East Africa, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, together with Makerere University Business School and the African Research & Impact Network, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala have designed an interactive e-learning course aimed at equipping financial professionals in East Africa with the necessary knowledge and tools needed to proactively employ finance to address climate adaptation.

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Sustainability related expert-courses

The Paris Agreement marks the beginning of a new era with the focus shifting from finding a consensus on the common goals to realising jointly agreed goals. “Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development” (Article 2 c of the Paris Agreement) will require a significant increase in funding – with new instruments and approaches required to mobilize a broad range of investors and to achieve scalability in financing climate action. Financing the global energy transition will be one key building block.

This course will help you to understand two different perspectives on financing climate and RE projects: firstly, why markets alone might fundamentally not be able to trigger investment in a way that environmental issues are appropriately taken into account and which policy instruments are available to correct these so-called “market failures”. Secondly, the project perspective of investors or financiers confronted with the specifics of RE and EE financing including but not limited to dealing with the specific risk profile of capital intense business models in an often policy and regulation driven market. Understanding both perspectives and the interlinkage is key to policy design and investment decisions in the years to come.

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Climate change will have a profound impact on countries and economies. Businesses, small and large, are affected; investors face increased risks, something also observed by the insurance industry. Governments are required to respond too, and do so in different ways: they provide adaptation planning and some (often public) infrastructure, but they also play a key role in providing a policy environment that facilitates the response measures by all stakeholders in the economy. This course will help you to understand the many facets of, and perspectives on, climate adaptation finance – which is not and shall not be limited to grant funding. An overview of how financing typically takes place in different adaptation related projects will form the basis for discussions about why finance is flowing towards adaptation projects in some cases whereas in other situations commercial adaptation investment is inhibited. The different perspectives of businesses, investors and policy makers on adaptation will be given. This will support the participants to reflect on appropriate policy interventions to facilitate adaptation and to identify funds from various sources available to implement required measures globally.

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Reflecting sustainability criteria, especially climate change, in financial markets is increasingly gaining attention as opportunities and risks arising in this context are changing business practices. The course will prepare participants to understand major drivers and constraints of transforming the financial system to a more sustainable one. Furthermore, it will familiarize participants with the business, regulatory and technical perspective of sustainable finance and will acquaint them to take an active part in the discussion around the topic. The course aims to enable financial professionals to integrate Sustainable Finance related aspects into their work through new knowledge and tools for advising their clients and business partners.

The CESFI online course can be complemented by a classroom component. This is voluntary and not a requirement to get certified by Frankfurt School.
Our training approach features:

  • Training material based on international best practice with international examples;
  • A hands-on, practical focus with tools and guidance for real life implementation;
  • On-going support from our experienced trainers and tutors throughout the entire course

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The Certified Expert in Financing NDCs (CEFNDC) is an online course that addresses this knowledge gap and provides a comprehensive overview of the different facets of NDC contributions and the resulting financing implications. This course is based on Frankfurt School’s extensive experience in international practical project and advisory work as well as education programs in the area of climate change and finance.

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The EU’s Green Deal and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are good examples of how ESG criteria and impact investing have been incorporated into policy objectives. Strategies, metrics and evaluation of ESG and impact investing are therefore relevant for a wide range of investors such as private asset managers and institutional investors, family offices and philanthropic investors, as well as donors and development agencies. As a Frankfurt School Certified Expert in ESG and Impact Investing you will be in a position to translate best practices in the industry into investment projects that create impact and persuade asset owners.

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These factual highlights are the foundation of our new e-learning program “Certified Expert in Sustainable Agricultural Finance” (CESAF). The self-paced online course focuses on the central question how financial institutions can help farmers – especially poor smallholders – to shift to sustainable agricultural practices that lead to secured livelihoods, better working conditions on farms, and enhanced resilience to climate change.

Improved access to finance plays a significant role in the transformation of the food and agriculture sector. Farmers and agribusinesses need loans, insurance, leasing, and many other financial services to become more sustainable. Financial institutions seek qualified employees who understand the financial needs and dynamics in agricultural value chains.

A similar course is available in French and Turkish.

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More e-learning opportunities

FSDF online certification courses start twice a year, beginning of March and beginning of September.

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We also offer tailor-made trainings

We look forward to hearing from you.