In an era defined by urgent climate action and the pursuit of sustainable development, mastering Green Finance and Sustainable Bonds for PPPs is rapidly becoming a strategic imperative for governments and private investors seeking to fund environmentally sound and socially impactful infrastructure projects through Public-Private Partnerships. This specialized area of finance provides innovative mechanisms to mobilize capital specifically for projects that deliver clear environmental or social benefits, aligning investment with global sustainability goals and attracting a growing pool of conscious capital. This comprehensive training course is meticulously designed to equip public sector officials, project developers, financial institutions, and legal professionals with the advanced knowledge and practical skills required to understand the principles, frameworks, and market dynamics of green finance and sustainable bonds, enabling them to design, issue, and invest in PPPs that contribute to a greener, more resilient, and equitable future. Without expertise in Green Finance and Sustainable Bonds for PPPs, stakeholders risk missing out on significant funding opportunities, failing to meet sustainability commitments, and hindering the transition to a low-carbon economy, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Public Sector Officials from Ministries of Finance, Environment, and PPP Units
• Project Developers and Sponsors of green/sustainable infrastructure
• Investment Bankers and Capital Markets Professionals
• Commercial and Development Bank Professionals
• ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Analysts and Specialists
• Fund Managers and Impact Investors
• Legal Professionals specializing in capital markets and project finance
• Consultants advising on sustainable finance and PPPs
• Corporate Sustainability Officers
• Anyone involved in financing or investing in environmentally and socially responsible infrastructure.

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of green finance and sustainable finance.
• Learn about the principles and guidelines for green bonds and social bonds.
• Acquire skills in identifying and assessing eligible green/social PPP projects.
• Comprehend techniques for structuring and issuing green and sustainable bonds for PPPs.
• Explore strategies for integrating ESG criteria throughout the PPP project lifecycle.
• Understand the importance of impact measurement and reporting for sustainable bonds.
• Gain insights into legal and regulatory frameworks for sustainable finance.
• Develop a practical understanding of market dynamics and investor demand for green bonds.
• Master due diligence requirements for sustainable bonds.
• Acquire skills in engaging with external reviewers and verifiers for bond certification.
• Learn to apply international best practices in sustainable bond issuance.
• Comprehend techniques for leveraging blended finance for green PPPs.
• Explore strategies for enhancing the bankability of green/sustainable PPP projects.
• Understand the importance of transparency and integrity in sustainable finance.
• Develop the ability to lead and implement green finance initiatives for PPPs.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Green and Sustainable Finance

• Definition and scope of green finance, sustainable finance, and impact investing.
• The urgency of climate change and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Role of finance in achieving environmental and social objectives.
• Overview of the global sustainable finance market.
• The unique role of PPPs in delivering green and sustainable infrastructure.

Module 2: Principles and Guidelines for Sustainable Bonds

• The Green Bond Principles (GBP) and their core components.
• The Social Bond Principles (SBP) and their application.
• The Sustainability Bond Guidelines (SBG).
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) Standards and Certification.
• ASEAN Green Bond Standards and other regional initiatives.

Module 3: Identifying Eligible Green and Social PPP Projects

• Criteria for project eligibility under green and social bond frameworks.
• Examples of green projects (renewable energy, clean transport, sustainable water, energy efficiency).
• Examples of social projects (affordable housing, healthcare, education, social inclusion).
• Screening projects for environmental and social benefits.
• Aligning projects with national climate and sustainability strategies.

Module 4: Structuring Green and Sustainable Bonds for PPPs

• Key steps in the green/sustainable bond issuance process.
• Role of the issuer (public authority, project company, DFI).
• Use of proceeds, project selection process, management of proceeds, and reporting.
• Tenor, coupon, and other financial terms of sustainable bonds.
• Integrating bond covenants with the underlying PPP contract.

Module 5: Legal and Regulatory Framework for Sustainable Finance

• Regulatory developments in sustainable finance (e.g., EU Taxonomy, SFDR).
• Disclosure requirements for sustainable bonds.
• Legal frameworks for green and social bonds in different jurisdictions.
• Role of national securities regulators.
• Preventing "greenwashing" and ensuring legal compliance.

Module 6: External Review and Verification

• Importance of independent external review for sustainable bonds.
• Types of external reviews: Second Party Opinions (SPOs), certification, verification.
• Role of external reviewers (e.g., Sustainalytics, Vigeo Eiris, CICERO).
• The verification process and criteria.
• Selecting and engaging external reviewers.

Module 7: Impact Measurement and Reporting

• Developing robust impact measurement frameworks for green/social projects.
• Key performance indicators (KPIs) for environmental and social outcomes.
• Baseline setting and attribution challenges.
• Transparent and regular reporting on impact and use of proceeds.
• Aligning reporting with global standards (e.g., TCFD, SASB).

Module 8: ESG Integration in the PPP Lifecycle

• Integrating ESG considerations into project identification and feasibility.
• ESG due diligence during procurement and financial close.
• ESG clauses in PPP contracts and financing agreements.
• Monitoring and reporting ESG performance during operations.
• Managing ESG risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Module 9: Market Dynamics and Investor Demand

• Growth of the global green and sustainable bond market.
• Investor motivations for buying sustainable bonds (e.g., mandates, reputation, risk mitigation).
• Pricing dynamics: "greenium" and its implications.
• Role of institutional investors and impact investors.
• Accessing new pools of capital for PPPs.

Module 10: Blended Finance for Green and Sustainable PPPs

• How blended finance can de-risk green/social PPPs to attract private capital.
• Concessional finance and guarantees for green projects.
• Role of DFIs and MDBs in catalyzing green private investment.
• Structuring blended finance solutions for climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Case studies of blended finance in green PPPs.

Module 11: Due Diligence for Sustainable Bond Issuers and Investors

• Due diligence requirements for issuers to ensure bond credibility.
• Investors' due diligence on the sustainability credentials of projects.
• Assessing environmental and social risks of the underlying asset.
• Verifying compliance with sustainability standards.
• Identifying potential greenwashing risks.

Module 12: Tax Incentives and Policy Support for Green Finance

• Government policies promoting green finance (e.g., tax breaks, subsidies).
• Role of national green finance frameworks and taxonomies.
• Carbon pricing mechanisms and their impact on green PPPs.
• Regulatory support for sustainable investment.
• Creating an enabling environment for green PPPs.

Module 13: Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience PPPs

• Financing climate mitigation projects (e.g., renewable energy, energy efficiency).
• Financing climate adaptation and resilience projects (e.g., flood defenses, resilient transport).
• Nature-based solutions and their financing through PPPs.
• Legal and financial aspects of climate risk allocation in PPPs.
• Case studies of climate-resilient PPPs.

Module 14: Transparency, Integrity, and Anti-Greenwashing

• Importance of transparency in sustainable bond issuance and reporting.
• Preventing greenwashing: misrepresenting environmental/social benefits.
• Role of independent verification and assurance.
• Stakeholder engagement in ensuring integrity.
• Reputational risks associated with greenwashing.

Module 15: Case Studies and Future Trends in Green Finance for PPPs

• In-depth analysis of landmark green and sustainable bond issuances for PPPs.
• Lessons learned from successful and challenging green finance deals.
• Emerging trends: blue bonds, transition bonds, biodiversity bonds.
• Role of blockchain and AI in sustainable finance.
• The evolving landscape of sustainable finance and its impact on PPPs.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.