The world faces a triple and interconnected crisis: a climate emergency, rapid biodiversity destruction and entrenched poverty. The next ten years are crucial to prepare, adapt and transform our societies, economies, and ecosystems. The financial sector plays a defining role in both mitigating the potential damages brought by a carbon-intensive, ‘business as usual’ global economy, as well as in finding new, innovative, and catalytic approaches for adapting to a changed climate. In 2015 through the Paris agreement nearly 200 countries committed to reducing the carbon emissions that fuel climate change and keeping global warming under 2˚C (3.6°F), or 1.5 ˚C (2.7°F) if possible. The economic models show the cost of meeting the Paris agreement will be far less than the cost of damages incurred as we move beyond 2°C. Researchers in 2022 warned that even if mean temperatures were held below 2°C, people living in the tropics, particularly in India and sub-Saharan Africa, will be exposed to extreme heat for most days of the year.

The aim of this programme is to build the knowledge and capabilities of national and local leaders in policy, government, training service providers and financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, to support a climate-resilient economy. The programme is designed to raise awareness of the need, and equip delegates to develop, appropriate policies and financial products to mobilise and redirect capital flows to mitigate the economic, social, and environmental impacts of climate change in the region.

Decision makers will gain an understanding of the prospects and processes for unlocking private sector capital through international climate funds, focusing on the opportunities public climate finance can provide in reducing the barriers for mobilising private climate finance for action on climate change.

New and existing alliances and partnerships on climate finance will be facilitated and leveraged to inspire investor confidence in climate-smart projects, by ensuring the availability of locally trained professionals to champion delivery of appropriate climate finance products.

• Understand and explain the impact of current global, economic, social, and environmental pressures on the financial industry
• Assess the importance of navigating complexity and systems thinking
• Identify key sector opportunities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and how financial flows can motivate change
• Understand how climate finance innovation can drive impact, in addition to integrating sustainability into existing financing activities
• Explore opportunities for innovation and collaboration with key stakeholders in their context, to drive increased investments into climate resilient projects which lead to sustainable economic growth across stakeholders

This programme is designed for policy makers, regulators and decision makers and operations staff of financial institutions and county governments, to create a new class of African leadership and financial capability. National and sub-national decision makers will also benefit.

This is a partnership between FSD Africa, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), the Eastern & Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The programme will be delivered by small teams of expert trainers and facilitators, all of whom will have deep experience of working with senior leaders from business, the finance sector and government.

Plenary sessions will expose delegates to cutting-edge thinking and practice from Faculty and Guest Contributors. Delegates will also spend valuable time in small group discussions to deepen their understanding of what is required and how they can use their roles and spheres of influence to effect change. Expert guest speakers will add value to sessions, with an additional specialist deep-dive into the opportunities and processes for unlocking private sector capital through international climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – the world’s largest international public fund.

Each delegate is allocated to a Syndicate Group for the duration of the programme. This group is facilitated by a Faculty member and this is where focused reflection on ideas that emerge from the workshop session will take place. Finally, a post-programme check-in will provide delegates with an opportunity to regroup and share outcomes and progress at the end of the programme. Certificates of completion are awarded based on a combination of delegates’ attendance, participation and project submissions.

The Africa Climate Finance Course: Unlocking public climate finance for sustainable business transformation, will be delivered by IIED.

CISL programme with Support from IIED

Our changing context: System condition and trends in the regional, national and global context and the economic and social implications of these changes

Aim: establish a common understanding of global pressures and trends, the risks for societies, economies and business and the fundamental challenge to ‘business as usual’.