Masterclass on Climate Adaptation Finance

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have partnered to develop a Masterclass on Climate Adaptation Finance to support financial institutions (FIs) to explore the climate adaptation investments. Investing in adaptation is not only a matter of managing risk, but also a strategic imperative for protecting portfolios, capturing new market opportunities, and sustaining long-term value creation in an increasingly volatile world. 

Event description

The Masterclass is built on a modular Body of Knowledge (BoK). The BoK comprises six core modules designed to deepen FIs staff understanding of physical climate risks and to offer insights into how institutions can identify and structure bankable adaptation investments that deliver resilience and long-term value to millions of people on the continent, contributing to the core national priorities on climate adaptation. 

GCA is organizing the first in-person delivery of this Masterclass for its partner financial institutions and selected external stakeholders. This pilot delivery is intended as a structured testing ground for the BoK, Masterclass content and approach. Participants will engage with the material, provide detailed feedback, and contribute insights that will be used to refine both the masterclass training and the accompanying BoK. The goal is to ensure the Masterclass is practical, relevant, and impactful for a broader rollout. 

Expected Outcomes 
By the end of the Masterclass training, participants will understand adaptation finance and how their institutions can address the needs of their clients in the face of climate change. Participants will sharpen their skills to intentionally design and deploy adaptation finance facilities.  

Feedback from participants will complete the BoK and online Masterclass platform, which will serve as public goods to benefit a wide range of financial service providers. The Masterclass is envisioned to scale through a blended certification pathway: an online platform open to all and potentially, partnerships with supervisory institutions to extend its reach to more FIs and their clients. Over time, this scalable approach will create a growing network of participants who can champion adaptation finance within their institutions, driving broader market adoption of climate-resilient investment across sectors. 

While this masterclass event is addressed towards financial institutions, the BoK is relevant for a wider spectrum of private sector financial service providers, including impact funds, guarantee providers, and microfinance institutions.