Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Development Finance e-Campus Courses

Education is central to development - both in the sense of personal advancement and in the wider context, defined as the development of countries. Our online programmes help you to systematically and successfully develop your qualifications and to build your career while recognizing the social function of education.

FSDF e-Campus online courses are conducted completely online, with the exception of the final exam. The paper-based final exams can be taken on fixed dates at one of our partner institutions spread around the world.

Our online certification programmes are 6-month part-time trainings, designed to be conducted along full-time work or other obligations. Apart from a few deadlines, the courses follow a very flexible approach, allowing participants to follow their own study schedule.

Our e-learning courses are suitable for professionals working in development finance who are trying to move up the career ladder, graduates, university students, people interested in knowing about development finance. These courses are developed by practitioners for practitioners keeping in mind the latest trends in the industry. Moreover, once you have completed one of the courses listed above and are satisfied with our training approach, you can get this course recognised in our Master of Leadership in Development Finance – online. Yes, you will receive ECTS (European credits) once you complete any of the above courses. This not only helps you to study at your own pace but also helps you in building your own master. Sounds interesting, right?


Certified Expert in Microfinance (English and French)

The microfinance sector is dynamic and rapidly changing. Microfinance practitioners must be equipped with up-to-date knowledge and tools to strengthen their MFIs to be able to cope with the challenges of growth, complexity and competition.

The Certified Expert in Microfinance course is an excellent and comprehensive qualification for microfinance practitioners. It prepares you for the challenge of serving your clients in changing and increasingly competitive environments.

Certified Expert in Islamic Microfinance (English)

In the growing area of Islamic microfinance, a diverse skillset is required. Professionals have to be knowledgeable in traditional retail banking, in the ethics of Islamic finance and in the relevant compliance and regulation issues. In order to provide you with the necessary skills and know-how to become a well-rounded Islamic microfinance professional, we have designed the certification course ‘Certified Expert in Islamic Microfinance’.

This e-learning course was jointly developed by a team of experts from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and the Islamic Relief Academy.

Certified Expert in Microinsurance

The Certified Expert in Microinsurance provides you with an understanding of the target market, marketing strategies and distribution channels to be successful with this product proposition.

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is introducing a course aimed to provide insights on how microinsurance can benefit low-income populations and help organizations (e.g., banks, MFI, insurance companies and brokers) to tap into a new, high potential market segment.

Certified Expert in Risk Management (English, French, Spanish and Russian)

Risk is inherent in the delivery of financial services. It is therefore important for financial institutions to implement a systematic risk management approach. The objective of this course is to deepen your understanding of modern risk analysis including credit, market, liquidity and operational risk and to implement this understanding in your institution. The course teaches global concepts applied to the special conditions of developing and emerging markets.

Certified Expert in SME Finance (English, Russian, Chinese)

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are important engines of growth, jobs and social cohesion. However, the creation, survival and growth of SMEs is often hampered by access to finance. Thus, access to SME finance has become a key priority in developing and transition countries. Since the early nineties, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management is combining advisory work, training, and policy advice with applied research. Our goal is to support financial institutions in developing and transition countries establish good practices in Micro and SME finance.

This online course, which is based on Frankfurt School’s broad experience in practical project work and theoretical business school education programs, is tailored to the needs of mid-level managers and loan officers active or interested in SME Finance.

Certified Expert in Financial & Managerial Accounting (English)

The Certified Expert in Financial & Managerial Accounting online course introduces concepts and theories of financial and managerial accounting. It focuses on leadership aspects in accounting. Participants will get acquainted with how accounting information is used in decision making and how leadership designs accounting systems and strategically uses the disclosure system to achieve targets. The course covers applied topics of accounting and leadership.

Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance (English)

This e-learning course is developed and implemented jointly with the Frankfurt School - UNEP Collaborating Center.

The Paris Agreement marks the beginning of a new era with the focus shifting from finding a consensus on the common goals to realising jointly agreed goals.

“Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development” (Article 2 c of the Paris Agreement) will require a significant increase in funding – with new instruments and approaches required to mobilize a broad range of investors and to achieve scalability in financing climate action. Financing the global energy transition will be one key building block.

Decreasing prices for renewables combined with increasing regulatory risk for traditional fossil fuels make Renewable Energy (RE) more competitive and attractive for commercial investors.

Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance (English)

Climate change will have a profound impact on countries and economies. Businesses, small and large, are affected; investors face increased risks, something also observed by the insurance industry.

Governments are required to respond too, and do so in different ways: they provide adaptation planning and some (often public) infrastructure, but they also play a key role in providing a policy environment that facilitates the response measures by all stakeholders in the economy. Essential for this course is that most of these response measures – adaptation measures - require investment. There is a tremendous spectrum from small enterprises to corporates up to larger private or public infrastructure projects seeking climate adaptation finance.

Certified Expert in Financial Inclusion Policy (English)

The significant contribution that financial inclusion can make to achieving inclusive economic growth and the Sustainable Development Goals has gained global recognition. This has in turn led to critical policy reforms that help establish an enabling environment to promote financial inclusion.

This course will provide you with relevant knowledge of the key financial inclusion policy areas which are brought together by a comprehensive strategic approach. These areas are presented especially from the regulatory perspective and it is this that makes the content unique. The course will help develop skills to draft and analyse policies and to design strategies that are most relevant to emerging economies.

Certified Expert in Digital Finance (English)

Digital finance offers a transformational solution for financial inclusion. Powered by the mobile phone, new data and technological innovations, it has become affordable and convenient for unbanked customers to access and use formal banking services. While new technological developments and financial players bring tremendous opportunities, the emerging landscape is also becoming more complex and is putting increasing pressure on traditional providers to go digital. In our new online course on Digital Finance you will learn about the emerging digital landscape as well as the new market participants and products that have disrupted the market. By taking the course, you will be enabled to successfully deploy digital technologies in your institution and leverage digital financial services (DFS) in your target markets.

Certified Expert in Agricultural Finance(English, French and Turkish)

Agriculture matters a lot for everyone on this planet: it provides affordable and healthy food, jobs and incomes for millions of people; its development is essential for environmental protection, poverty alleviation and in the context of climate change.

Therefore, agriculture finance is a significant part of the finance sector. Farmers and agro-enterprises need loans, insurance, leasing and many other financial services to do well. Financial institutions seek qualified employees who understand the financial needs of farmers and agribusinesses, the dynamics of the agricultural sector and the role of finance in agricultural value chains.

The “Certified Expert in Agricultural Finance” (CEAF) is an on-line course that covers a wide range of agriculture finance topics. Participants will gain a broad perspective on the concept of agricultural finance and acquire the necessary skills to design feasible operations, products and delivery channels. One focus of the course will be on lending to farmers and agribusinesses, in particular how to manage risks and costs along the entire loan cycle.

This course is based on Frankfurt School’s extensive experience in practical project work and theoretical education programs, and it is tailored to the needs of our target audience.

Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance (English and German)

Reflecting sustainability criteria, especially climate change, in financial markets is increasingly gaining attention as opportunities and risks arising in this context are changing business practices. The course will prepare participants to understand major drivers and constraints of transforming the financial system to a more sustainable one. Furthermore, it will familiarize participants with the business, regulatory and technical perspective of sustainable finance and will acquaint them to take an active part in the discussion around the topic. The course aims to enable financial professionals to integrate Sustainable Finance related aspects into their work through new knowledge and tools for advising their clients and business partners.

This course consists of one e-learning and one classroom component. You can either book each of them individually or as a package.

Masterclass on Blockchain Business Strategy (English)

The Blockchain technology is one of the most promising new technologies to disrupt various businesses and industries. This course is designed to provide participants with basic technical understanding and is focused on strategy and business implementation to improve your business and operations. In this course you will understand:

• How and why blockchain technology disrupts business?
• What new business models are created and what opportunities exist?
• How and when an implementation of the blockchain technology is useful for your business?

About Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Frankfurt School is a research-led business school, covering every aspect of business, management, banking and finance. An impressive portfolio of services – ranging from degree courses to Executive Education programmes, from research projects to consultancy – means that Frankfurt School acts as adviser, catalyst and educational partner to companies and organisations, to individuals embarking on new careers, and to experienced executives.

As a centre of intellectual and practical activity, the business school formulates forward-thinking solutions for the worlds of business, finance and management, where agendas and issues are constantly changing.

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