It is increasingly recognised that faith leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are essential contributors towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing environmental and climatic crises. Acknowledging this, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Faith for Earth Initiative to strategically engage with FBOs, mobilise greater faith-inspired environmental action, scale-up faith actors’ capacities and catalyse greater synergies between them and other stakeholders. This short, self-paced, e-learning course, focusing on financing for sustainable development, forms part of this commitment.
FBOs are important players in working towards sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs of Agenda 30. One key avenue through which they can contribute is through their assets and wealth by helping to finance, and raising awareness on the need to finance, the green transitions required in all sectors of society globally. This is particularly important at a time when the SDGs face an immense funding gap and as the world seeks to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic. This course explores the role of faith actors in financing sustainable development across different areas, leveraging the comparative advantages and particular qualities they have, notably their great investment capabilities and societal influence.
