Upcoming Cohorts

February - March 2023 (Sold Out) August - September 2023 (Virtual)

Structure

14 live sessions with breakouts and case studies and a final course assignment

Reach out to discuss a payment plan at
esg@theboardroomafrica.com

Apply Now

ESG Certificate

Prepare for the future

The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Certificate programme targets women directors and executives looking to develop their understanding of ESG issues and concepts, equipping them with the tools required to drive ESG agendas in their respective organisations. This expert-led curriculum incorporates ESG theoretical frameworks and trends, situating them within a global context, with practical inputs intended to support executives as they review their roles in driving the ESG agenda.

Through TBrA's ESG certification program, I was exposed to practical approaches that organisations like mine have taken to adopt and implement sustainability within their space. I better understand how to focus on what matters to my business while successfully pushing the ESG agenda and monitoring our progress as we grow. I especially loved the depth of the training content, the supporting resources shared and the very experienced facilitators. I would recommend the programme to any female leader considering it
Vivian Akwuaka
Group Head, Quality and Sustainability, Iwosan Investments Limited

The ESG Certificate Programme gave me a deeper insight into the ESG topic and how boards can introduce it to the agenda. I have learnt that boards should be concerned not only about having an ESG strategy but should measure the impact of their initiatives. I loved the depth of the programme content and the knowledge of the facilitators who not only taught theory but also shared live experiences and very practical examples
Maximilia N. Byenkya
Director, Uganda Telecommunications Corporation Limited

The programme provided me with the right frameworks to assess and try to measure our organisation's ESG obligations and risks to future business sustainability. The reading materials provided for this course were great. The facilitators provided me with enough information and supporting materials to help me prepare our organisation for ESG
Antoinette Tesha- Ntlemo
Programme Director- Textiles and Apparels Gatsby Africa

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Certificate

Browse course outline

We centre our executive programmes around the concept of shared learning, and strong communities create a supportive environment for enhanced learning and growth. Our cohort Meet and Greets are the perfect starting point. Here, among others, you’ll get the chance to meet your fellow course delegates, lecturers and programme delivery team and explore the shared motivations around the transformative agenda of ESG.

This session provides an overview of the evolution of corporate responsibility, focusing on the shift from CSR to ESG. You'll learn about key ESG issues affecting businesses today, explore debates and controversies on ESG, and discover how to respond to ESG drivers strategically. By the end of the session, you'll have the knowledge and tools to navigate the constantly evolving ESG discourse.

ESG plays a significant role in shaping markets. The session explores the factors driving growing momentum around the ESG agenda and the business implications of ESG trends for various stakeholder groups and locations. You will also delve into trends such as "Generation-Z in the workplace and the new era of speaking up" and "corporate and employee activism".

Regulatory scrutiny of ESG is on the rise as a growing number of countries seem to encourage companies to report on their environmental and social risk. You will learn what’s driving new regulations and reporting standards. By the end of this session, you will understand the “alphabet soup” of regulation around ESG and how it impacts corporate strategy and compliance requirements.

This session focuses on leadership and culture in the context of agenda setting, challenging the status quo, and shaping mindsets and the organisation’s culture.

Research shows that thinking and acting proactively on ESG can generate commercial, reputation and societal returns. Your ESG journey should take a holistic approach that considers how to optimise value creation. You will explore how a strong ESG proposition can accelerate top-line growth, reduce costs, garner government support, attract talent and enhance long-term returns.

ESG variables can have a considerable impact on a company’s long-term sustainability and profitability. Overlooking these risks can result in financial and reputation losses. This session breaks down key considerations when assessing and managing ESG risks to help you understand how to move from a compliance-driven approach to a proactive risk reduction strategy. You will also learn about best practices when designing an effective Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).

There are extensive legal, academic and investor arguments for and against incorporating ESG into decision-making. This session will explore contemporary debates around the evidence and rationale around addressing the material impacts of ESG in corporate strategy.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach for determining how ESG will be overseen by the board and its committees. The session will cover the factors to be considered in determining an effective board governance model around ESG. You will also learn about board diversity from an ESG perspective as well as how to optimise ESG oversight models in the boardroom and how to consider ESG data in board decision-making.

You will engage in two immersive case study sessions focused on managing environmental and social challenges. Each session will entail a case study of a company navigating a major environmental and social issue. Through a practical, discussion-based session, you will apply what you’ve learned about effective ESG strategy to develop approaches for crisis mitigation, risk management and future value creation.

It can be tricky to parse out the "sense and nonsense" of ESG reporting frameworks, which are numerous and ever-evolving. You will be introduced to frameworks and best practices around developing an ESG narrative so that you are equipped to prioritise factors and metrics that matter. By the end of this session, you will be able to: - Determine – as a potential client – which ESG funds are ‘genuinely’ ESG - Better articulate – as an asset manager – why your ESG fund is 'genuinely' ESG - Better articulate – as a manager – how your company defines ESG / CSR

Having understood key ESG considerations, companies need to take action. To be successful, you must adopt a practical approach. You will learn how to design an ESG action plan built around key ESG themes that are material for most businesses across industries whilst taking into account the "5 signals": regulation, litigation, clients, employees/investors and activism. The session will also explore practical approaches focused on materiality and competitive advantage, developed by leading academics from London Business School and New York University.

The final session allows you to share your insights and your feedback and reflect on how your learnings can be applied within your own organisational context. Here, you’ll also learn more about the final programme assignment and post-programme expectations.

Course Instructors

Rosalind Kainyah MBE

Rosalind Kainyah MBE is an authority on Sustainability and responsible business with over 30 years of combined legal, international, executive and board-level experience. She is a trusted advisor to Boards and Senior Executives of companies on leveraging opportunities and managing Sustainability related risk. Rosalind has advised companies across various sectors, including the extractives industry, energy, private equity, financial services, healthcare, agriculture, consumer goods, logistics, manufacturing and technology. Rosalind is also an experienced non-executive director. She currently serves on the boards of discoverIE plc, Gem Diamonds Limited, CalBank Plc, Lekela Power and BTE Renewables. In the not-for-profit sector, she is a trustee and Vice Chairperson of the Africa Gifted Foundation and a Board member of Results for Development (R4D). She has previously served on the Boards of Aker Energy, the Ghana Food &Drugs Authority and The Africa-America Institute.

Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor works on challenges at the intersection of corporate integrity, risk and responsibility. She is a Clinical Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, where she teaches professional responsibility, sustainability, and leadership classes to undergraduates, MBA and Executive MBA students. She's also the Executive Director of Ethical Systems, which is part of NYU Stern School of Business and is a collaboration between leading academics working on behavioural science, systems thinking and organisational psychology. She's currently writing a book for HBR Press on how the landscape for business ethics is transforming. Alison holds Senior Advisor roles at BSR, Zai Lab, and Wallbrook. She's a board director at Preventable Surprises and on the advisory board of Venture ESG. She's a 2022 LinkedIn Top Voice on sustainability, a member of the WEF Global Future Council on Good Governance 2023-24, and a BCG Brighthouse Luminary Fellow.

Harald Walkate

Harald Walkate is the founder of Finding Ways Ahead, an independent ESG and impact investment advisory firm. From 2019 to 2021 he was the Head of Responsible Investment (ESG) and a member of the Executive Committee at Natixis Investment Managers. Prior to that, he worked for Aegon for fifteen years in different capacities, and lastly as Global Head of Responsible Investment at Aegon Asset Management. His work in ESG has included working with portfolio managers and analysts to integrate ESG considerations into investments, active ownership, policy and organizational issues, and identifying positive impact investment opportunities within different asset classes, with a particular focus on blended finance. Harald is a Senior Fellow with the University of Zurich Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) and a regular contributor to the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) programs. He was also an advisor to the Impact Management Project and sat on the AIF Center for ESG and Sustainable Finance board.

Jacqueline Musiitwa

Jacqueline Musiitwa is currently Senior Climate Advisor at USAID, a Biden Administration appointee. She is an international attorney specialising in business transformation, innovation and sustainability. Jacqueline has over 17 years of experience leading legal and corporate relations functions in financial services and the industrial sectors. She is a member of the faculty at Georgetown University. Jacqueline sits on the boards of Bushveld Minerals (AIM: BMN) and PPC Zimbabwe Limited and is the Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She has experience as a board chair and chairing governance and risk committees. She previously served in various leadership capacities at Rio Tinto, the Trade and Development Bank (TDB Group), World Trade Organization.