The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has developed a pioneering Masterclass on Climate Adaptation Finance to equip private financial institutions with the knowledge and tools to identify, develop, and scale climate-resilient investments.

Why climate adaptation finance matters
Africa received just 3.3% of global climate finance in 2021–2022, with only 1.2% coming from private sources. While public funding remains essential, scaling up climate adaptation requires greater private sector engagement and investment in climate-resilient solutions.

The Masterclass aims to help bridge this financing gap by strengthening the capacity of private financial institutions (PFIs) to translate climate risk assessments into bankable opportunities, develop tailored financial products for adaptation, and integrate climate resilience into lending and investment decisions.
By positioning adaptation finance as both a necessity and a growth opportunity, the Masterclass highlights how financial institutions can:
– Protect their portfolios against climate-related shocks and risks.
– Unlock new market opportunities through climate-resilient investments and financial products.
– Safeguard long-term development gains by supporting resilient value chains and businesses.

While designed primarily for PFIs, the Masterclass’s Body of Knowledge (BoK) is also relevant to a broader range of financial service providers, including impact investment funds, guarantee schemes, and microfinance institutions.

Explore the Masterclass
The Masterclass is built around a modular Body of Knowledge (BoK), covering the following topics:
1. Introduction
2. Climate Science and Risk: Foundations for Financial Decision-Making
3. Introduction to Climate Risk Modelling and Integration in Credit
4. Adaptation Solutions
5. Financing Adaptation Solutions
Together, these modules aim to strengthen financial institutions’ capacity to assess physical and transition climate risks, identify and finance bankable adaptation investments, and build resilience across the continent while aligning investments with national climate priorities.

The Masterclass comprises five theoretical sessions and two practical insights, providing participants with both foundational knowledge and practical perspectives on financing climate adaptation.

A Complementary Resource: The Handbook for Financial Institutions
The Masterclass complements the Handbook for Financial Institutions: Climate Adaptation Finance, a practical resource designed to help financial institutions translate climate adaptation priorities into investment opportunities.
The Handbook provides guidance on integrating climate adaptation into institutional strategies, internal operations, and business development. Together, the Handbook and the Masterclass offer complementary resources to help financial institutions understand climate risks, identify adaptation investment opportunities, and develop and scale climate-resilient financial products and services.

Access the Learning Materials
Explore the materials below to discover the key concepts, insights, and practical approaches presented throughout the Masterclass. These resources are intended to support financial institutions and other financial service providers in strengthening their capacity to assess climate risks, identify adaptation opportunities, and mobilise finance for climate-resilient development.