MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development | Geneva Graduate Institute

At the Geneva Graduate Institute, MAS students are immersed in a vibrant ecosystem that offers opportunities to collaborate with student-led initiatives on campus. Two of our current students, Maximilian Steinbach and Augusto Gortaire, are actively involved in GIIA (Geneva Impact Investing Association), a student led initiative dedicated to fostering dialogue and innovation in sustainable finance and impact investing. As part of their efforts, they recently organized a session on "Impact Investments in Sports", featuring Liam Mc Groarty, Strategic Development Manager at UEFA. Liam shared insightful perspectives on the transformative role of sports investments: - Proven benefits include improved education outcomes, reduced crime rates, better health indicators (e.g., reduced hypertension and obesity), and enhanced social capital, making sports a powerful tool for societal development. - Despite these benefits, challenges remain. Sports funding accounts for just 0.7% on average, with a heavy reliance on grant-based models. - Gender inequalities in participation and governance persist, particularly affecting women, girls, and adolescents predisposed to limited access. - To unlock sports' full potential, there is a pressing need to shift toward sustainable funding models and increase targeted investments in underserved communities. This is one of the many ways our students channel their hobbies and passions for collective learning. To know how the MAS program can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/d7W_a6uG

Its Building Bridges week! MAS program Co-Director, Dawid B., will be speaking on the Sustainable Finance Educational Programs Solutions stage. He will discuss the future of non-financial reporting in Europe, opportunities for introducing the “Omnibus," and what the new Green Bond Standard means for fixed-income markets. The One-Year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development (https://lnkd.in/eJ8n78wF) (60 ECTS) is a selective postgraduate program focused on preparing students for employment in the financial sector, international organizations, NGOs, and think tanks. The program combines training in advanced empirical and analytical tools required for employment in the rapidly evolving and high-demand field of #ESG and #ImpactInvesting. Most of the core courses are taught by faculty from the International Economics Department and interdisciplinary programs. These courses equip students with the analytical skills and transdisciplinary background needed to apply sustainable finance tools to socially responsible investments aimed at financing the #SDGgoals. Our practitioners' course on #SustainableFinance offers unique exposure to sustainable finance firms from the financial sector, accounting, consultancy, and multinational organizations. Our fully funded field trip allows students to experience impact investing firsthand in a developing economy (https://lnkd.in/e5-EANJS). This applied approach – combined with our connection to one of the world's leading sustainable investment hubs, benefiting from the presence of many sustainable finance players and international organizations based in Geneva, as well as close ties to international financial organizations such as the #WorldBank and the #IFC – opens up numerous career opportunities in banking, wealth management (https://lnkd.in/eVixiQgs), and impact investing (https://lnkd.in/ej4rR8mN), both in the financial sector and with multinational organizations. *** Dawid will be speaking alongside Vanina Farber, Matthew Kilgarriff, Dimitri Senik, CFA, Antoine Mach, Michelle Van Waveren, Jessica Leigh, Daniela Lavrador and Thomas Maillart. CFD - Centre for Finance and Development Come hear us at the event! See details in the event page below. #BuildingBridges #BuildingBridges2024 #SustainableFinance

🌟 Meet Our Speakers for Building Bridges 2024! 🌟 We are thrilled to introduce the incredible lineup of thought leaders and experts who will be headlining our workshop 'Intergenerational Collaboration in Impact Investing' on December 10, 2024 at CICG, Geneva. These experts will help guide us in building a Youth-Led Impact Investment Fund from the ground-up. This is your chance to engage with the best in the field! 🗓 Save the Date: Dec 10, 2024 | 15:00-16:30 pm CET 📍 Venue: Room F, CICG, Geneva 🎟  Register now and join us:  https://lnkd.in/gssaHvTd Special thanks to Jan Langlo at the Association of Swiss Private Banks, Dr. Anthony Giannoumis our moderator, and Nathan Sussman and Patricia Arnold at the CFD - Centre for Finance and Development for supporting us with the event. #BuildingBridges24 #ImpactInvesting #SustainableFinance #YouthLeadership #FinanceForChange #GIIAEvent #CFDPartners #FinanceAndDevelopment #IHEIDInnovation #CollaborateForImpact #IHEID #GraduateInstitute #Geneva

Juliette Geisinger, part of the first cohort of the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development program at the Geneva Graduate Institute, shares her experience with us about her internship. Internships, a key component of the MAS curriculum, provide students with opportunities to apply their learning within Europe's dynamic financial ecosystem. Juliette reflects on how she honed her critical thinking skills alongside data analysis and financial knowledge, which proved instrumental during her internship as an intern with the Sustainable and Responsible Investment team at Mirabaud Asset Management in Paris. She also emphasizes how hearing from practitioners during one of her courses expanded her industry exposure and facilitated valuable professional connections. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a

As part of the core course Climate Finance and Impact Investing, MAS students delved into the topic of how private wealth can be leveraged for sustainability. The students explored how private wealth can be utilized, focusing on the integration of sustainability into wealth management practices. They highlighted global wealth trends, including significant growth projections, a major generational wealth transfer, and the increasing demand for sustainability-focused investments. Investor trends reveal a shift, particularly among younger generations, toward innovative and values-aligned solutions. They also addressed challenges such as regulatory pressures and the need for operational alignment with sustainability goals, using Lombard Odier as a case study to illustrate best practices in sustainable investing. Climate change is a present, pressing issue, and the speed at which the world transitions to net zero is crucial. But how can we finance this transition? Who should bear the cost, and for what purpose? These questions are central to the topics covered in Prof. Beatrice WEDER DI MAURO's course. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a

Last week, the CFD - Centre for Finance and Development held a discussion with Mr. Kensuke Molnar-Tanaka, Head of Asia Desk, OECD Development Centre, on Climate Disaster Risk Finance and Development in Asia. Climate disaster finance is becoming an essential topic as disasters rise in Asia, exposing limited fiscal capacity and resilience gaps. Countries are now exploring innovative financing mechanisms to address these challenges. While OECD countries have over 50% of losses covered, many countries lack insurance coverage. Multi-country risk-sharing, where nations pool risks, is emerging as a solution. However, challenges remain in balancing insurance premiums and affordability while increasing insurance literacy and government support. These bonds, though relatively new, are gaining traction. The Philippines leads the way, supported by the World Bank, with Indonesia following suit. Despite a 10x increase in CAT bond issuance, uptake remains low in ASEAN countries. Challenges like basis risk—where payouts may not match actual losses—persist, but the demand signals strong potential. Initiatives like the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company, and Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility are paving the way for collaborative resilience-building. This growing field, in light of #COP29, opens broader questions about integrating climate change resilience into financial mechanisms. The seminar was jointly organised by the OECD Development Centre and CFD. These partnerships provide our MAS students with direct access to insights from leaders at the highest levels of sustainable finance. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a #GenevaGraduateInstitute #IHEID #COP29 #OECD #OECDDevelopment

Last week, CFD - Centre for Finance and Development hosted a fireside chat on the evolution and financial innovations of The World Bank with Anshula Kant, Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer of the Bank. She shared insights into the Bank's ambitious efforts to deliver faster, more impactful support to client countries. She also highlighted the Knowledge Compact initiative, aimed at enhancing knowledge sharing by bridging the gap between global insights and country programs. She discussed balance sheet optimization, which has unlocked billions in support for middle-income nations. By issuing AAA-rated Sustainable Development Bonds, the Bank ensures funds are directed to critical areas like health, education, and climate initiatives. Currently, 40% of its lending is dedicated to climate-related projects. Addressing global headwinds and challenges related to global fragility, she noted that despite a forecasted global growth of 2.6% this year, issues such as conflict-driven fragility, food shortages, and demographic shifts, particularly Africa’s rapidly growing youth population, require urgent attention. The event was moderated by Nathan Sussman, with remarks from Maria Dimitriadou. The event was part of the CFD-World Bank High-Level Series on Financing for Development. These partnerships provide our MAS students with direct access to insights from leaders at the highest levels of sustainable finance. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a #WorldBank #IFC #SustainableFinance #GlobalDevelopment #ClimateAction #CFD #GenevaGraduateInstitute #IHEID

Have you ever bought a carbon credit? The assignment prompted our students to try purchasing a carbon credit for themselves. It turns out a single carbon credit costs about USD 20 to buy, but can it be resold at a higher price? As part of the core course 'Climate Finance and Impact Investing', students delved into the topic of 'Verification in the Carbon Credit Market', with a focus on Verra. They examined the roles of global verification institutions, explored Verra’s principles and operations as a leading verification body, discussed the challenges in verification along with alternative methods, and highlighted key market trends and case studies. Climate change is a present, pressing issue, and the speed at which the world transitions to net zero is crucial. But how can we finance this transition? Who should bear the cost, and for what purpose? These questions are central to the topics covered in Prof. Beatrice WEDER DI MAURO's course. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a

In preparatory sessions, MAS students hone their skills in econometrics, diving into statistical concepts, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, and hypothesis testing using Stata. These essential tools help assess the significance of regression coefficients—crucial for data-driven decision-making. A central component of evidence-based policy is identifying impactful strategies. The core MAS course, 'Empirical Methods for Evidence-Based Policy Research', equips students with essential knowledge about empirical methods used to evaluate the causal effects of sustainable development policies. To learn more about how the one-year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development can benefit you, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJyT4E9a #Econometrics #PolicyResearch #SustainableDevelopment #EvidenceBasedPolicy #DataDriven #GenevaGraduateInstitute #IHEID

Geneva Graduate Institute is hosting an Online Open Week for prospective students, offering a unique opportunity to experience live classes and get an authentic feel for life in the program. Join us on October 21st for an exclusive live class on Climate Finance and Impact Investing, taught by the renowned Prof. Beatrice WEDER DI MAURO. This is your chance to see firsthand what it's like to be a student in the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development program and explore how we prepare future leaders in sustainable finance. Time: 14:15 CET Link: https://lnkd.in/eYkb68P2 #IHEID #GraduateInstitute #Development #Sustainability #FinancingTheSDGs #Webinar #Masters