INTRODUCTION
Climate change continues to pose profound risks to economies, ecosystems and societies, with the greatest impact falling on vulnerable countries and communities. While global and national commitments to climate action have increased, a persistent gap remains between ambition and the volume and quality of finance mobilized for low carbon emission and climate-resilient development. At the same time, private investment, innovative business models, and new financial instruments are emerging as critical levers for scaling climate solutions.
The Advanced Course on Climate Finance and Innovative Business Models is designed to strengthen the capacity of state and non-state actors including policymakers, practitioners, and private sector actors to navigate the evolving climate finance landscape, structure bankable projects, and design business models that crowd in both public and private investment towards sustained resilience. Through a combination of learning-by-doing approach with conceptual sessions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will develop the practical and technical skills required to move from ideas to implementable, finance-ready climate actions.
This is a call for applications from professionals seeking to deepen their technical and practical understanding of climate finance to position themselves as leaders in designing and implementing innovative, investable climate solutions and integration of ESG factors into business strategy, risk management and reporting.
OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The overall objective of the course is to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to conceptualize and prepare catalytic bankable projects with innovative business models that meet the requirements of different climate finance mechanisms as well integrating ESG factors into business strategy, risk management and reporting.
TARGET GROUP
- State actors and policymakers in ministries and agencies interested in translating policies, NDCs and sector strategies into bankable project pipelines.
- Practitioners and think tanks seeking to strengthen the finance and business case for their climate and resilience programmes.
- Non-state actors (international organizations, NGOs, private sector) looking to design climate solutions that meet the requirements of climate funds and investors.
- Researchers and early-career professionals aiming to build practical skills in developing finance-ready climate project concepts and innovative business models.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
The Course is organized into eight interlinked modules:
- Modules 1: Overview of Climate Systems and Risk Assessment
- Modules 2: Climate Finance Landscape
- Modules 3: Climate Rationale Development
- Modules 4: Project Design and Theory of Change (ToC)
- Modules 5: Enabling Policy Environment
- Modules 6: Planning and Budget Development
- Modules 7: Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Modules 8: ESG & Sustainability
- Module 9: Individual/Group Project
FACULTY
- The course will be delivered by a multidisciplinary faculty comprising experts, scientists and Practitioners in climate finance, ESG, climate science, and monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.
- The training includes a mix of practical activities, theoretical knowledge, group work, and case studies.
- Participants will receive comprehensive training manuals and additional reference materials.
- A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course.