The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has unveiled the ‘1 Million Learners’ initiative under its Sustainable Finance Catalyst programme, aiming to equip one million individuals with sustainability and sustainable finance knowledge by 2030. The announcement was made at the Dubai FinTech Summit held at Madinat Jumeirah.
The initiative underscores DIFC’s commitment to fostering a financial ecosystem aligned with environmental and social responsibility. As sustainability becomes a core component of economic development strategies, the programme seeks to enhance public understanding of sustainable finance and support the creation of more inclusive and resilient societies.
“This initiative is a testament to our belief that real impact begins with education,” said Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority. “By working closely with our partners, we are making sustainability knowledge more accessible and helping ensure the region leads in the global sustainable transformation.”
The ‘1 Million Learners’ programme is supported by 28 founding partners from across various sectors, including AICPA & CIMA, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, CFA Institute, Emirates NBD, Mastercard, Visa, the United Nations Development Programme, and the London Stock Exchange Group, among others. These organisations share a common goal of expanding access to sustainability knowledge and fostering capacity building at scale.
To measure the initiative’s impact, DIFC has partnered with GIST Impact, a global leader in total impact assessment. With over 17 years of experience in quantifying social, environmental, and economic outcomes, GIST Impact will support DIFC in tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of the programme. Its methodologies align with key global frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
The initiative will focus on delivering tangible benefits for communities, especially in underserved regions, by improving access to education and promoting equity and livelihoods through sustainability-focused learning.
DIFC and its partners aim to redefine large-scale sustainability education by empowering a new generation of professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to lead meaningful change in the global transition to a greener economy.
