Virtual Course

“Corporate Eco-efficiency in Financial Institutions”

“The eco-efficiency represents a positive relationship between the environmental performance and the financial performance through the efficient use of resources”. Ecobanking Project

About the course

The Virtual Course "Corporate Eco-efficiency in Financial Institutions" is an initiative of the Ecobanking Project and the Latin American Taskforce of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (LATF - UNEP FI) with the support of the Capacity Building International of Germany (InWEnt) and INCAE (International Business School).

This initiative allows program partners to meet their objective of improving competitiveness in Latin America’s financial sector through training on international best practices related to implementing environmental and social standards in financial activities.

Though there are numerous documents and tools on eco-efficiency today, as well as many specialists in the field, program partners believe that this course is important for the following reasons:

• This is the only virtual course on eco-efficiency specifically designed for the financial sector.


• The course is directed toward people working in general service areas who have direct management over resources, yet who are not usually a target group for training related to the implementation of sustainable development in financial institution (FI) operations.

The course objectives are:

General objective. Train financial institution employees and others related (corporations, government, academic institutions, NGOs, consultants) on topics to promote the efficient use of resources in order to improve internal and external operations typical of the financial sector.

Specific objectives. Training for different stakeholders in Latin America’s financial institutions, will:

• Increase understanding in FI about the benefits of relating the organization’s environmental and financial performance.


• Spread awareness in FI about opportunities that result from the efficient use of resources in their operations.


• Help FI understand how to achieve a competitive advantage through eco-efficiency, causing less negative environmental impacts and assuring integral development of human resources and the local community.


• Make FI aware of best practices and systems to internalize eco-efficiency in their organizations.


• Share strategies among FI to help them detect and understand market opportunities resulting from the efficient use of resources. In turn, they will be able to share these practices with their suppliers and clients, as well as with their internal and external communities.

Target Audience: Courses are directed specifically at middle and higher level FI representatives responsible for operational and procurement matters within their institutions.

Course Structure: Each course is divided into three consecutive parts:

Part I - Introduction to the themes and practical assignments: This part of the course lasts two weeks. Participants are required to do readings, work on real case studies, take part in discussion fora and hand in assignments on ecoefficiency measures that could be implemented in their respective institutions.

Part II - In-house implementation: During 2 days participants are invited to develop a set of ecoeefficiency measures directly within their respective institutions.

Part III - Final assessment: With the support of the course tutor, participants submit the results of their individual eco-efficiency practice to the rest of his classmates, who will act as those responsible for approving the proposed projects, simulating a Credit Committee.

Cost:

*Discounts are available for Programme Partner members or associates (e.g. UNEP FI Signatories)

Please note that course fees serve exclusively to cover the costs of running the Programme.