The United Nations Development Programme’s SDG Finance Academy is offering a collection of 16 self-paced online courses designed to strengthen knowledge and practical skills in sustainable finance, public financial management, private capital mobilisation, biodiversity finance, impact measurement, Integrated National Financing Frameworks and Islamic finance.

These open-access learning opportunities are relevant to professionals, students, policymakers, development practitioners, entrepreneurs, researchers and other learners who want to understand how financing tools and policy reforms can accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

More than 12,000 participants have already engaged in the Academy’s 16 self-paced e-learning courses. The platform also reports that more than 2,500 learners have participated in its in-person academies across UNDP regions. Its introductory e-learning course has received an average participant rating of 9.1. UNDP SDG Finance Academy

Most of the courses are available in English, while selected courses are also offered in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese or Arabic. Certificates are available for most courses, although certificate conditions differ by course and learning platform.

There is no single application deadline stated for this collection because the courses are self-paced and generally available through ongoing online enrolment.

What Is the UNDP SDG Finance Academy?

The SDG Finance Academy is the United Nations Development Programme’s learning platform for building sustainable-finance capabilities worldwide.

It shares UNDP’s experience in using financial instruments, public policy, private-sector engagement and integrated financing strategies to advance sustainable development.

The Academy provides:

• Live online courses
• Self-paced e-learning courses
• In-person academies
• Tailored support in different areas of sustainable finance
• Access to practical knowledge developed through UNDP’s global work
• Opportunities to learn from international experts and real-world examples

The Academy’s broader purpose is to help governments, businesses, development organisations and finance professionals identify, attract, de-risk, align and protect investments that contribute to country-led sustainable development.

It seeks to close the gap between sustainable-development ambitions and the financing, policies, institutions and technical capabilities needed to deliver them.

Why Sustainable Finance Skills Matter

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires major changes in the way public budgets, private capital, financial markets, investment pipelines, taxation systems and development plans are designed and managed.

Governments alone cannot finance every development priority. Sustainable development therefore depends on coordinated action involving:

• National and local governments
• Public-finance institutions
• Private investors
• Commercial banks
• Development finance institutions
• Businesses and entrepreneurs
• Multilateral organisations
• Civil society
• Philanthropic organisations
• Academic and research institutions

Sustainable finance is not limited to raising more money. It also involves ensuring that financial flows, public policies and business operations produce measurable social, environmental and economic benefits.

The UNDP courses address this challenge by introducing learners to subjects such as SDG budgeting, taxation, debt, insurance, private investment, nature finance, impact measurement, financing frameworks and Islamic financial instruments.

Main Features of the UNDP Online Courses

The courses generally offer the following features:

• Free or open-access online learning
• Self-paced study arrangements
• Flexible participation from different countries
• Practical explanations of sustainable-finance concepts
• UNDP case studies and institutional experience
• Real-world examples
• Knowledge checks, exercises or assessments, depending on the course
• Certificates for most courses, subject to completion requirements and platform conditions
• Content for both introductory and more experienced learners
• Access through UNDP-associated learning platforms

The exact duration, enrolment procedure, assessment method and certificate conditions can differ from one course to another. Learners should check the official course page before registering.

Complete List of 16 UNDP SDG Finance Academy Courses

The courses can be organised into six main learning areas:

1. Sustainable-finance foundations
2. Public finance for the Sustainable Development Goals
3. Private capital for sustainable development
4. Nature and biodiversity finance
5. Impact measurement and finance tracking
6. Integrated financing frameworks and Islamic finance

Sustainable-Finance Foundations

1. Introduction to Sustainable Finance and the SDG Finance Academy

This course provides the foundation for understanding the other courses offered through the SDG Finance Academy.

UNDP recommends completing it before proceeding to the more specialised modules.

The course introduces:

• The meaning and importance of sustainable finance
• The financing challenges affecting the Sustainable Development Goals
• UNDP’s role in sustainable finance
• Catalytic financing approaches
• Financial instruments supporting development
• Policy reforms that can unlock sustainable investment
• Connections among public finance, private capital and national development priorities
• The purpose and structure of the SDG Finance Academy

The course is particularly useful for learners who are new to sustainable finance and want a structured introduction before selecting a specialised pathway.

Languages

The course is available in:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Chinese

Certificate

A certificate is available, subject to completing the applicable requirements.

View the official course page.

2. Introduction to Sustainable Finance for Climate and Energy

This course introduces sustainable-finance concepts specifically related to climate and energy.

It was developed collaboratively by UNDP’s Sustainable Finance, Climate and Energy teams and is described by UNDP as a free online course for a global audience.

The course helps learners understand how finance can support:

• National climate priorities
• Clean-energy transitions
• Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement
• Climate and energy investment planning
• Mobilisation of public and private finance
• Financial solutions for climate action
• Management of climate-related risks
• Sustainable infrastructure and energy investments

It is relevant to professionals working in climate policy, energy planning, sustainability, investment, public administration and development cooperation.

Language

The course is available in English.

Certificate

A certificate is available after meeting the applicable completion requirements.

View the official course page.

Public Finance for the Sustainable Development Goals

Public finance determines how governments generate revenue, allocate resources, manage debt, prepare budgets and protect societies against financial risks.

The four public-finance courses introduce learners to key public financial-management tools that can support the achievement of the SDGs.

3. Public Finance: Introduction to Debt for the SDGs

This course examines the relationship between public debt and sustainable development.

It can help learners understand:

• Why governments borrow
• How public debt supports development
• Debt sustainability
• Responsible borrowing
• Debt-related risks
• Fiscal space for the SDGs
• Connections between debt management and development priorities
• How debt instruments may be aligned with sustainable outcomes

The course is relevant to government officials, economists, finance professionals, development practitioners, researchers and students interested in sovereign finance.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is listed for the course, subject to completion requirements.

4. Public Finance: Introduction to Tax for the SDGs

Taxation provides governments with resources to finance public services, infrastructure, social protection and other development priorities.

This introductory course examines:

• The role of taxation in advancing the SDGs
• Taxation and effective governance
• Essential tax concepts and terminology
• Challenges affecting tax systems
• Potential tax-policy and administrative reforms
• Fairness and effectiveness in revenue mobilisation
• UNDP’s work to strengthen tax systems
• The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative

The course can be particularly useful for public officials, accountants, tax professionals, policy researchers, economists and development practitioners.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is available.

View the official course page.

5. Public Finance: Introduction to Budgeting for the SDGs

This module explains how public financial management and government budgeting can support SDG implementation.

It includes:

• Core public financial-management concepts
• Connections between national budgets and SDG targets
• Development-focused allocation of public resources
• UNDP examples of budgeting for the SDGs
• Integration of sustainable-development priorities into budget processes
• The role of planning, expenditure and performance information

UNDP developed a comprehensive self-directed e-learning course on this subject with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Learners are directed to the related UNITAR course and then returned to the UNDP module for UNDP-specific examples.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is available, subject to completion of the required components.

View the official course page.

6. Public Finance: Introduction to Insurance and Risk Financing for the SDGs

This course explores how insurance and risk-financing arrangements can protect development progress from crises, disasters and other financial shocks.

Potential learning areas include:

• Understanding risk financing
• The role of insurance in sustainable development
• Financial preparedness
• Disaster-risk financing
• Protection against economic shocks
• Management of contingent liabilities
• Public-sector approaches to risk
• Building financial resilience
• Connections between insurance and SDG implementation

The course is relevant to government officials, insurance professionals, risk managers, emergency-planning specialists, development practitioners and finance professionals.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is listed, subject to the course requirements.

Private Capital for Sustainable Development

Private investment is essential because public resources alone cannot close the global SDG financing gap.

The Academy’s private-capital courses explain how businesses, investors, intermediaries and governments can work together to create and finance investments that contribute to sustainable development.

UNDP recommends taking the three private-capital modules in sequence.

7. Introduction to Unlocking Private Capital and Aligning Business Operations for the SDGs

This course introduces UNDP’s approach to working with the private sector to mobilise capital and align business operations with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Learners are introduced to:

• Why private-sector participation is necessary
• Important sustainable-investment terminology
• Approaches for mobilising private capital
• Alignment of business activities with the SDGs
• Public-private cooperation
• The role of enabling policies
• Connections between investment decisions and development outcomes

The course serves as the first module in the private-capital learning sequence.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is available.

View the official course page.

8. Unlocking Private Capital: Introduction to Accessing Capital for SDG Investment

This course focuses on the mechanisms through which organisations and projects can access capital for SDG-aligned investments.

It covers areas such as:

• The private sector’s role in achieving the SDGs
• Sustainable-investment terminology
• Networks that connect projects with finance
• Blended-finance approaches
• Financial guarantees
• Digital finance
• Approaches to accessing capital
• UNDP’s engagement with investors and financial institutions

The module helps learners understand how public and development resources can be used strategically to attract additional private capital.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is available.

View the official course page.

9. Unlocking Private Capital: Introduction to SDG Investment Project Pipelines

The availability of capital does not automatically result in sustainable investment. Investors also need credible, prepared and investable projects.

This course introduces approaches for developing SDG investment pipelines.

It addresses:

• The meaning of an investment project pipeline
• Identification of SDG-aligned opportunities
• Development of investable projects
• UNDP SDG Investor Maps
• Identification of enterprises capable of delivering investment opportunities
• Cooperation with financial and market intermediaries
• Connections between development priorities and commercial opportunities
• The importance of project preparation

The course is relevant to investment-promotion agencies, development organisations, policymakers, project developers, financial institutions and entrepreneurs.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is available.

View the official course page.

Nature and Biodiversity Finance

Biodiversity loss creates risks for governments, businesses, investors and communities. At the same time, protecting and restoring nature requires better financial planning and investment.

The Academy offers two courses addressing the relationship between nature, business and finance.

10. Learning for Nature: Introduction to Nature, Business and Finance

This course introduces the foundations of nature-related finance for public-sector and private-sector decision-makers.

It examines:

• Business dependencies on nature
• Business impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems
• Nature-related financial risks
• Nature-related opportunities
• The relationship between economic activity and ecosystem services
• Why nature should be incorporated into financial and business decisions
• The role of public and private actors in financing nature-positive outcomes

The course consists of three modules and aims to develop a foundational understanding of nature, business and finance.

Language

English

Certificate

A certificate is listed for the course.

View the official course page.

11. Biodiversity Finance: Designing and Implementing Finance Plans for Nature

This course addresses the development and implementation of financing plans for biodiversity and nature.

It is especially relevant to professionals involved in biodiversity planning, government finance, conservation, environmental policy and development programmes.

Key learning areas may include:

• Assessing biodiversity financing requirements
• Identifying existing financial flows
• Recognising financing gaps
• Selecting appropriate financial solutions
• Developing biodiversity finance plans
• Engaging government and non-government stakeholders
• Implementing and monitoring finance solutions
• Connecting biodiversity priorities with public and private finance

Languages

The course is available