Frequently Asked Questions

• For which asset classes are the SDG Impact Standards available and how can I use them after the training programme?

  The SDG Impact Standards are available for enterprises, bond issuers and private equity funds, as well as development finance institutions through a collaboration with OECD. Organisations can undertake a self-assessment to identify gaps in embedding sustainable management into their operations and prioritize actions for continuous improvement over time, for which UNDP provides a tool and guiding material.

  The upcoming SDG Impact Assurance Framework and SDG Impact Seal will recognize adopters of the SDG Impact Standards who are more likely to be contributing positively to sustainability. This will enable the market to compare and authenticate the scale of impact, size of environmental or social goal investors are trying to achieve.

• What are the SDG Impact Standards?

  As the only management standards in the market that embed sustainability at the core of an organization holistically, the SDG Impact Standards guide the private sector to make management decisions to optimize interrelated economic, social and environmental impacts.

  Developed as a public good by UNDP, the SDG Impact Standards provide a unified management approach to the advancement of sustainability and the SDGs amongst businesses, investors and policy makers across the interconnected themes of strategy, management approach, transparency and governance. As such, the SDG Impact Standards are an organizing framework to help make sense of the crowded landscape of frameworks and tools available. They have been designed to be consistent with existing high-level principles, such as the IFC’s Operating Principles for Impact Management or the Principles for Responsible Investment, fill gaps in current market approaches that are undermining efforts to achieve sustainability and the SDGs, embed core decision making frameworks, and enable users to select the most appropriate impact management and external disclosure tools to suit their needs and context, such as from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Global Impact Investing Network’s (GIIN) IRIS+.

• Is the number of participants in the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates limited and will there be future cohorts?

  The training programme is limited to a maximum of 25 participants to provide an interactive learning environment. Additional cohorts are in planning for 2023.

• What are the criteria to participate in the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates?

  Participants in the training programme are required to meet the following criteria:

  • Registered enterprise with current operations across Sub-Saharan Africa and a demonstrated interest in reducing negative impact and creating positive impact for people and planet.
  • Conduct the Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs online course available at http://immforsdgs.com.
  • Review of SDG Impact Standards and especially the 12 Business Actions available at https://sdgimpact.undp.org/practice-standards.html.
  • Completion of pre-reading on human rights, SDGs, Women Empowerment Principles, UN Global Compact Ten Principles, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and other foundational topics to be shared with registered participants.
• What is the curriculum of the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates?

  As hands-on sessions focused on the practical aspects and in-depth concepts of effective IMM practices, the training programme guides a select number of practitioners and industry leaders through the steps required to integrate sustainability into decision making, using the SDG Impact Standards. The training programme covers the following content:

  • Introduction & Managing for Impact:
    • Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs: The essentials of IMM practices based on the Coursera course developed by UNDP in partnership with CASE at Duke University
    • Integrating sustainability and the SDGs into internal management systems and decision-making through the SDG Impact Standards
  • Defining Impact Strategy:
    • Introduction to strategy
    • Drafting a statement of intent and committing to operating sustainably and making a positive contribution to the SDGs
    • Understanding the sustainability context
    • Mapping current and future potential material impacts
    • Drafting a corporate strategy statement that embeds impact into vision and mission
    • Setting high level impact goals
    • Keeping the strategy current and fit to purpose
  • Deploying Impact to Management:
    • Introduction to management
    • Aligning internal culture and management systems with impact-integrated purpose and strategy
    • Developing methodology and systems to effectively measure impacts and integrate into business decision-making
    • Assessing and comparing material impacts over time, and generating and choosing options for increasing impact
    • Embedding continuous improvement of responsible business and impact management practices
  • Bringing it all Together: Transparency and Governance:
    • Introduction to transparency
    • Starting to plan how to cascade the learning and start to embed the new way into all business and functional processes
    • Integrating responsible business and impact management practices into governance framework
    • Leading by example
  • High-Level SDG Impact Self-Assessment Tool & Planning for a Roadmap:
    • Planning a roadmap for the SDG Impact Standards through conducting an initial self-assessment and preparing for defining and implementing an improvement plan
    • Presenting next steps and additional support on using the SDG Impact Standard “product” or “approach” on an ongoing basis
• Are there any introduction sessions to learn more about IMM and the SDG Impact Standards before committing to the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme?

  Yes, AVPA and UNDP conducted two sensitization webinars on 20 July 2022 and 3 August 2022 at 4 pm East Africa Time (EAT) to provide an overview of the current impact measurement and management landscape and educate key stakeholders on the SDG Impact Standards and how they can be used to move from thinking about the SDGs as an add-on to what business gets done to how all business gets done. The webinar recordings can be accessed here and here.

• When does the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates take place?

  The training programme starts on 6 October 2022. 9 weekly sessions of 2-4 hours each extend over the months of October and November 2022.

• Who are the organisers of the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates?

  The training programme is a partnership between African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), which has identified a systemic gap in the market around effective IMM practices that go beyond reporting and recognize the business case for the SDGs among African stakeholders, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its African Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH) and the flagship initiative SDG Impact that developed the SDG Impact Standards.

• Do I get a refund if I cannot complete the full SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates?

  Cancellation of the registration 30 days prior to the start of the training programme is entitled to a full refund. No refunds will be provided for cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the start of the training programme or after the training has started.

• What happens if I am unable to complete the full SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme?

  To make the most of your impact measurement and management journey, we strongly encourage all participants to commit to the full training programme. Please save the dates, set aside sufficient time to attend the tutorials and discussions, and complete the required readings and assignments.

  Failure to do so may result in an incompletion of the training programme and disqualify you from receiving the certification.

• Will I receive a certificate upon completion of the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme?

  Upon successful completion of the training programme, participants will receive a certificate of completion jointly from AVPA and UNDP. In order to qualify to receive a certificate, you must attend at least 80% of the sessions and complete the course work.

• How much does it cost to participate in the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme?

  The training programme costs USD 2500 to be paid in full upon acceptance. This fee covers the nine sessions of the training programme and provides participants with full access to highly-curated course materials and connections to leading practitioners.

• What is the application deadline for the SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme?

  Registration will close on 26th August 2022. As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, we encourage you to apply for the training programme as early as possible.

• How may I apply for the AVPA-UNDP SDG Impact Standards User Training for African Corporates Programme for Enterprises?

  Please submit your applications by filling out this form and ensure you provide all required information accurately and completely. A committee will review all the applications and inform all applicants of the decision via email. Should the committee have any questions, an AVPA or UNDP representative will reach out to you.

• Whom do I contact if I have questions about the Managing for Impact Training Programme?

  Please reach out to Nancy Kairo, East Africa Director, and Member Services, at info@avpa.africa.