The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently launched a groundbreaking e-Learning Programme in response to the growing worldwide need to promote and improve sustainable finance. This SDG Finance Academy initiative of the Sustainable Finance Hub aims to share UNDP’s substantial knowledge of sustainable finance with global practitioners.
The open-access e-Learning Programme will be accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. It begins with ten comprehensive modules, offering a foundational understanding of sustainable finance and advanced explorations in vital areas essential for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Academy expects the next phase to broaden collaboration avenues and streamline support, building a global sustainable finance community to increase the effect of development financing.
Speaking about the initiative, the Director of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub said:
Sustainable finance is the cornerstone of our collective SDG aspirations. We are enthusiastic about enabling individuals worldwide to redirect funds effectively towards national SDG targets and craft a sustainable finance blueprint beneficial to all.
The global economy is still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 UN SDG Report revealed a significant increase in poverty, the first increase in extreme poverty in decades. Despite SDG 1’s 2030 ‘no poverty’ goal, forecasts indicate that the global poverty rate may reach 7%. Furthermore, donor governments must refrain from increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to support SDG achievement due to limits imposed by their national recovery efforts. In 2021, ODA remained stagnant at 0.33% of gross national income, significantly lower than the UN objective of 0.7%.
Recognizing these challenges, UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 focuses on utilizing public and private resources to achieve the SDGs. The UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) initiated the SDG Finance Academy to disseminate sustainable finance expertise among its vast workforce and national partners. This led to significant outcomes, such as Uruguay’s first-ever SDG-aligned sovereign bond.
The initial ten learning modules of the e-learning programme mirror the Academy’s live training – introducing basic concepts followed by ‘deep dives’ in critical areas for achieving the SDGs. These include budgeting, taxation, thematic bonds and insurance for the SDGs, accessing capital for SDG investment, establishing SDG investment project pipelines, managing impact, designing Integrated National Financing Frameworks, and more. With the mounting interest from stakeholders in comprehending sustainable finance’s transformative nature, the Academy experienced overwhelming demand that surpassed its capability for in-person training.
To learn more about the e-Learning Programme and its courses, go to sdgfinance.undp.org/courses.
On 10 October, an online SDG Integration CoP Conversation on Engaging the Public and Private Sectors for Financing the SDGs will explore the SDG Finance Academy’s work on building capacity for financing SDG targets across the UNDP, governments, the private sector and more.
As the United Nations’ lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. It helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, and institutional capabilities and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The organization focuses on sustainable development, democratic governance and peacebuilding, and climate and disaster resilience. It promotes transformation and connects countries to information, experience, and resources to assist people in creating a better life.
