Training
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.
We offer:
- Tailor-made training and tools for financial institutions worldwide
- Stakeholder consultations and workshops globally
- Executive education (local & regional summer academies, and two-year executive programmes)
- Specialised student courses within the Frankfurt School curriculum
- Training on private sector financing for policy makers worldwide
- Interactive learning through our e-learning platform.
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.
FSDF online certification courses start twice a year, beginning of March and beginning of September.
Certified Specialist Courses:
The Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance (CECRF): 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.
The Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance (CECAF): 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.
The Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance (CESFI): 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
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.
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.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc, the world’s energies are rightly focused on efforts to contain the virus and manage the economic fallout. Yet, in the background, the climate emergency remains as urgent as ever. In the coming weeks and months, billions of dollars will flow into recovery programmes. Governments now have the chance to tailor their recovery programmes to invest in the reduction of emissions and climate resilient development. The stakes are high. But if this chance is missed, it may be even more difficult for countries to meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and for the world to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) are pleased to announce that the 12-month bilingual NDC Financing Fellowship Programme (NDC – FFP) started the application process for policymakers and researcher from Sub-Saharan Africa in June.
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 renewable energy (RE) financing projects in the context of international climate policy. 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.
Our course offer the opportunity to build a solid foundation in climate and sustainable finance, where you can either explore some of the bigger picture topics or go deeper into the number crunching side.