About This Course
The global business landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. Investors, regulators, customers, and employees are demanding greater accountability from organisations on how they manage their environmental footprint, social responsibilities, and governance structures. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have moved from the periphery of corporate strategy to its very core — influencing capital allocation, reputational standing, regulatory compliance, and long-term organisational resilience.
TrainingComplex's Environmental, Social, and Governance Training is a rigorous, five-day programme designed to build practical ESG competency within organisations across Africa and beyond. The course bridges theory and practice, walking participants through internationally recognised ESG frameworks — including the GRI Standards, SASB, TCFD, UN SDGs, and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) — while contextualising these frameworks within the realities of emerging and frontier markets.
Participants will gain the knowledge and tools to conduct ESG materiality assessments, design robust ESG strategies, embed sustainability into corporate governance, and produce credible ESG disclosures. Beyond compliance, this training empowers delegates to champion ESG as a strategic driver of innovation, risk mitigation, and competitive differentiation. Whether your organisation is beginning its ESG journey or seeking to elevate existing practices, this course delivers the clarity, confidence, and capability to lead meaningful change.
Who Should Attend
- This course is designed for professionals who are responsible for, or directly involved in, sustainability strategy, corporate governance, risk management, investor relations, and regulatory compliance. It is particularly suited for:
- - Chief Sustainability Officers, ESG Managers, and Corporate Affairs Professionals
- - Board Members, Company Secretaries, and Senior Executives overseeing governance
- - Risk, Compliance, and Legal Officers managing ESG-related regulatory obligations
- - Finance and Investment Professionals integrating ESG into portfolio management and reporting
- - Human Resources Leaders responsible for social and workforce-related ESG metrics
- - Supply Chain and Procurement Officers managing sustainability across value chains
- - Government and Public Sector Officials developing environmental and social policy
- - NGO and Development Finance professionals working on sustainability frameworks
- - Consultants and Advisors supporting clients on ESG strategy and disclosure
Learning Objectives
- - Explain the ESG framework and articulate the business case for integrating ESG into organisational strategy
- - Identify and apply key international ESG reporting standards including GRI, SASB, TCFD, and ISSB
- - Conduct an ESG materiality assessment to prioritise the most relevant sustainability issues for a given organisation
- - Develop an actionable ESG strategy aligned with organisational objectives and stakeholder expectations
- - Assess environmental risks and opportunities including climate change, resource efficiency, and biodiversity impacts
- - Evaluate social performance dimensions including human rights, labour practices, community engagement, and diversity and inclusion
- - Analyse governance structures, anti-corruption controls, board accountability, and ethical business conduct
- - Design and produce credible ESG disclosures and sustainability reports that meet investor and regulatory expectations
- - Engage diverse stakeholder groups effectively on ESG issues and manage ESG-related reputational risks
- - Embed ESG considerations into procurement, supply chain management, and capital allocation decisions
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of ESG: Concepts, Context, and the Business Case
- Understanding the ESG framework: environmental, social, and governance pillars defined
- The evolution of ESG: from CSR to mandatory disclosure and investor-driven accountability
- Building the business case: ESG and its link to financial performance, risk, and resilience
- ESG across sectors and geographies: contextualising global standards in African and emerging market realities
- Key ESG actors and their roles: regulators, investors, rating agencies, civil society, and corporates in the ESG ecosystem
- Common ESG misconceptions and implementation pitfalls: distinguishing genuine integration from performative compliance
Module 2: International ESG Frameworks and Reporting Standards
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: structure, universal standards, and sector disclosures
- SASB, TCFD, and the ISSB: understanding climate and financial materiality disclosure requirements
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Global Compact as ESG alignment tools
- Navigating multiple frameworks: selecting the right standards for your organisation's context and stakeholders
- Emerging mandatory disclosure regimes: the EU CSRD, SEC climate rules, and their implications for non-headquartered subsidiaries and trading partners
- ESG ratings and indices: how MSCI, Sustainalytics, and CDP assessments work and what drives scoring outcomes
Module 3: ESG Materiality Assessment and Strategy Development
- What is materiality? Financial materiality versus impact materiality and double materiality explained
- Conducting a stakeholder-informed materiality assessment: process, tools, and stakeholder mapping
- Prioritising ESG issues: building a materiality matrix and translating findings into strategic priorities
- Designing an ESG strategy: setting targets, assigning accountability, and aligning with corporate objectives
- Reviewing and refreshing materiality assessments: triggers for reassessment and maintaining relevance as the external environment shifts
- Linking materiality outcomes to capital allocation decisions and board-level risk registers to ensure strategic integration
Module 4: Environmental Performance: Climate, Resources, and Biodiversity
- Understanding climate risk under the TCFD framework: physical risks, transition risks, and scenario analysis
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions: measurement, reporting, and reduction strategies
- Resource efficiency and circular economy principles: water, energy, and waste management
- Biodiversity and nature-related financial disclosures: the TNFD framework and emerging regulatory expectations
- Setting science-based targets: aligning emissions reduction pathways with a 1.5°C trajectory using the SBTi methodology
- Developing a credible net-zero or decarbonisation roadmap: abatement levers, carbon offsets, and the role of renewable energy procurement
Module 5: Social Performance: People, Communities, and Human Rights
- Human rights due diligence: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in practice
- Labour standards, occupational health and safety, and fair wage practices across the value chain
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): metrics, reporting, and driving meaningful workplace change
- Community engagement, social impact assessment, and managing social licence to operate
- Vulnerable and affected stakeholder groups: identifying and addressing heightened social risks for women, migrant workers, and indigenous communities
- Grievance mechanisms and remedy: designing accessible, effective, and culturally appropriate channels for reporting and resolving social harms
Module 6: Governance: Structures, Ethics, and Accountability
- Board composition, independence, and ESG oversight: governance best practices and global benchmarks
- Anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and business ethics: policies, controls, and whistleblower mechanisms
- Executive remuneration linked to ESG performance: incentive design and transparency
- Data privacy, cybersecurity governance, and responsible use of technology as ESG concerns
- Tax transparency and responsible tax practice: why tax strategy is increasingly treated as a governance and reputational ESG issue
- Shareholder rights, minority investor protections, and related-party transaction controls as indicators of governance quality
Module 7: ESG in the Supply Chain and Procurement
- Mapping ESG risks across the supply chain: Tier 1 and beyond
- Embedding ESG criteria into supplier selection, due diligence, and contract management
- Responsible sourcing standards: conflict minerals, child labour, and deforestation-linked commodities
- Building supplier ESG capacity: engagement strategies, audits, and continuous improvement
- Using technology and supply chain traceability tools: blockchain, satellite monitoring, and digital platforms for real-time ESG risk visibility
- Managing remediation and exit decisions: how to respond when supplier ESG breaches are identified without abandoning vulnerable workers or communities
Module 8: ESG Disclosure, Reporting, and Stakeholder Communication
- Structuring a credible sustainability report: narrative, data, assurance, and alignment to standards
- ESG data collection systems: defining KPIs, data ownership, and quality assurance processes
- External assurance of ESG disclosures: levels of assurance, selecting assurance providers, and the assurance process
- Communicating ESG performance to investors, regulators, customers, and the public without greenwashing
- Understanding greenwashing risk and regulatory enforcement: FCA, ESMA, and consumer protection actions shaping disclosure obligations
- Integrated reporting principles: connecting financial and non-financial performance to demonstrate how ESG creates or erodes long-term value
Module 9: ESG Risk Management and Integration into Business Strategy
- ESG risk identification and classification within enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks
- Integrating ESG into capital allocation, investment appraisal, and strategic planning processes
- ESG due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and project financing
- Monitoring and reviewing ESG performance: dashboards, internal reporting cycles, and board-level ESG updates
- ESG and access to capital: how lenders, development finance institutions, and green bond frameworks are embedding ESG covenants and eligibility criteria
- Scenario planning for systemic ESG risks: using climate, policy, and social transition scenarios to stress-test long-term business models
Module 10: Building an ESG Culture and Driving Internal Change
- The role of leadership in championing ESG: tone from the top and middle management activation
- ESG training and capacity building: embedding sustainability literacy across functions
- Developing an ESG governance structure: dedicated teams, cross-functional committees, and reporting lines
- Personal ESG action planning: each participant defines their ESG commitments and next steps
- Overcoming internal resistance to ESG: addressing short-termism, siloed thinking, and competing business priorities through change management techniques
- Measuring ESG culture and employee engagement: pulse surveys, internal ESG champions programmes, and linking cultural indicators to performance reviews
Requirements & Prerequisites
- A minimum of two years of professional experience in a relevant field such as finance, governance, legal, HR, operations, or sustainability
- Basic familiarity with corporate governance principles and organisational management structures
- No prior formal ESG training is required, though familiarity with sustainability concepts is an advantage
- Delegates should attend with a specific organisational context in mind to maximise the relevance of applied exercises
Training Methodology
- TrainingComplex employs a highly participatory and applied training methodology that ensures delegates leave with both conceptual clarity and practical tools. Facilitators combine expert-led instruction with real-world case studies drawn from African, Middle Eastern, and global contexts, enabling participants to see ESG in action across diverse industries and regulatory environments. Interactive group workshops, stakeholder simulation exercises, and ESG materiality mapping sessions form the backbone of the practical learning journey. Delegates work through a structured ESG strategy development exercise across the five days, building a draft ESG roadmap for their own organisation or a provided case organisation. Peer learning is actively encouraged through cross-sector group discussions that surface diverse organisational perspectives. Each session is supported by curated reference materials, framework templates, and ESG disclosure checklists that participants can immediately apply back in their workplaces. The programme concludes with individual action planning, ensuring every delegate departs with a clear, personalised commitment to advancing ESG within their organisation.
Organisational Benefits
- - Strengthened organisational capacity to navigate evolving ESG regulatory requirements and avoid compliance penalties
- - Enhanced credibility and attractiveness to ESG-focused investors, development finance institutions, and multilateral lenders
- - Improved risk identification and mitigation through a structured understanding of environmental, social, and governance exposures
- - Greater alignment between corporate strategy and global sustainability frameworks, supporting long-term value creation
- - Elevated staff competence in ESG reporting, enabling the production of high-quality sustainability disclosures
- - Reduced reputational risk through proactive stakeholder engagement and transparent ESG communication
- - Stronger supply chain resilience by embedding ESG criteria into vendor selection and procurement decisions
- - Better talent attraction and retention, as employees increasingly seek purpose-driven, responsible employers
- - Competitive differentiation in markets where ESG performance is a procurement and partnership criterion
- - Foundation for achieving sustainability-linked financing, green bonds, and other ESG-tied capital instruments
Where Is Environmental Social and Governance Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Johannesburg, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Naivasha, Accra, Kisumu, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Arusha, Nairobi, Nakuru, Zanzibar, Abuja, Dubai, Kigali, Cape Town, Riyadh, Mombasa, Lagos, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,300 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,300 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
17 Oct 2026 – 8 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Nakuru, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
+237 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior ESG training or a sustainability background to attend this course?
No formal ESG training is required. The course is designed for professionals with general business experience who are new to or seeking to deepen their ESG knowledge. A basic understanding of corporate governance or organisational management will be helpful but is not mandatory.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. All delegates who attend and complete the full five-day programme will receive a TrainingComplex Certificate of Completion in Environmental, Social, and Governance Training. The certificate is suitable for inclusion in professional portfolios and CPD records.
How is the training delivered and what materials will I receive?
The course is delivered in-person through a combination of expert-led sessions, group workshops, case study analysis, and practical exercises. All delegates receive a comprehensive course pack including framework guides, ESG disclosure templates, materiality assessment tools, and a curated resource library to support continued learning after the programme.
Can this training be customised and delivered exclusively for my organisation?
Yes. TrainingComplex offers in-house, organisation-specific delivery of this programme tailored to your sector, regulatory environment, and current ESG maturity level. Contact our training team to discuss a bespoke engagement, including pre-training ESG diagnostics and post-training follow-up support.
What industries is this course relevant to?
This course is relevant across all industries, including financial services, manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, mining, retail, healthcare, public sector, and development finance. ESG principles are universally applicable, and the facilitators draw on cross-sector case studies to ensure relevance for delegates from diverse professional backgrounds.
