Corporate ESG and Sustainability Training Course

Duration 10 days 20 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Sustainability Managers, ESG Reporting Specialists and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-ESR-006

Before you join: Participants should understand basic corporate sustainability concepts, common ESG terminology and how their organisation currently reports environmental or social information.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Corporate ESG reporting now affects access to capital, customer tenders, regulatory filings, board oversight and operational investment decisions. Organisations must respond to reporting requirements while producing information that can withstand investor scrutiny, internal control testing and external assurance. The difficulty is not merely publishing a report: teams must define material topics, set boundaries, collect reliable data, calculate emissions, evidence claims, connect sustainability risks to financial planning and manage competing frameworks without duplicating effort.

This course develops the technical and managerial skills needed to design, operate and improve a corporate ESG reporting programme. Participants work with GRI Standards, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, ESRS, the GHG Protocol and TNFD concepts. They assess double materiality, map disclosure requirements, establish reporting boundaries, calculate Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, design data controls, build climate transition plans and prepare assurance-ready evidence. The course also addresses governance, board reporting, sustainable finance, greenwashing risk, biodiversity disclosures and the links between ESG metrics, enterprise risk management and annual reporting.

Teaching combines focused instructor briefings with reporting cases, peer review, group analysis, simulated assurance challenges and structured application planning. Participants progressively build a reporting workpaper set based on a realistic company case or their own organisation. They leave with a materiality assessment design, reporting standards crosswalk, emissions inventory model, ESG data-control framework, transition-plan structure and an assurance-readiness checklist. The course is suited to professionals responsible for sustainability strategy, reporting, finance, risk, internal audit, investor relations or corporate communications who need to produce decision-useful and defensible ESG disclosures.

What you will be able to do

  • Assess ESG reporting obligations using GRI, ISSB, ESRS and jurisdictional requirements
  • Conduct a double materiality assessment using stakeholder evidence and financial-impact criteria
  • Define organisational and operational boundaries for a GHG Protocol emissions inventory
  • Build Scope 1, Scope 2 and material Scope 3 emissions calculations
  • Design ESG data controls, evidence files and ownership matrices for assurance readiness
  • Prepare climate-risk, transition-plan and scenario-analysis disclosures aligned with IFRS S2
  • Create an ESG reporting standards crosswalk and disclosure implementation roadmap
  • Present an assurance-ready corporate ESG report package to senior decision-makers

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Produce disclosure mapping documents usable in ESG reporting projects
  • Assess material topics with defensible stakeholder and financial evidence
  • Discuss GHG inventories confidently with operational data owners and assurance providers
  • Identify unsupported sustainability claims before publication or investor communication
  • Build a portfolio of reporting workpapers for senior sustainability or ESG roles

For your organisation

  • Reduced duplication across sustainability, finance, risk and annual-reporting teams
  • More reliable ESG metrics supported by named owners and audit trails
  • Earlier identification of reporting gaps, control failures and greenwashing exposures
  • Clearer climate-risk and transition-plan information for boards and lenders
  • A practical roadmap for meeting investor, customer and regulatory disclosure requests

Course modules

20 modules over 10 days

Participants can design the core architecture of a corporate ESG reporting programme.

  • Corporate ESG reporting purposes for investors, regulators, customers and boards
  • Reporting architecture linking strategy, governance, metrics, targets and disclosures
  • Annual report, sustainability report and statutory filing publication choices
  • Material claims distinguished from supporting narrative and promotional communications
  • Disclosure calendars aligned with financial reporting, assurance and board cycles
  • Roles of sustainability, finance, risk, legal, operations and internal audit

Participants can compare major ESG standards and select appropriate reporting bases.

  • GRI Standards applied to impact-focused sustainability disclosures and stakeholder accountability
  • IFRS S1 requirements for sustainability-related financial information and enterprise value
  • IFRS S2 climate disclosures structured around governance, strategy, risk and metrics
  • ESRS architecture under CSRD including topical standards and datapoints
  • SEC climate disclosure developments and jurisdiction-specific reporting obligations
  • Standards crosswalk identifying common datapoints, differences and reporting gaps

Participants can establish governance arrangements for accountable ESG reporting decisions.

  • Board committee mandates for sustainability oversight, challenge and approval
  • Management accountability mapped through RACI matrices and reporting attestations
  • ESG policies translated into operational controls, procedures and evidence requirements
  • Executive incentives linked to measurable, controlled and reviewable ESG indicators
  • Three lines model applied to ESG reporting risk ownership
  • Escalation protocols for data exceptions, disputed claims and missed targets

Participants can plan stakeholder engagement that produces usable materiality evidence.

  • Stakeholder mapping by influence, dependency, affectedness and information needs
  • Interview guides designed for materiality evidence rather than general opinions
  • Survey sampling choices, response bias and documentation of limitations
  • Grievance mechanisms analysed as evidence of salient sustainability impacts
  • Stakeholder engagement records retained for challenge, review and assurance
  • Conflicting stakeholder priorities resolved through transparent decision criteria

Participants can complete a documented double materiality assessment and prioritisation matrix.

  • Impact materiality assessed through scale, scope, irremediability and likelihood
  • Financial materiality assessed through risks, opportunities and value-chain effects
  • Materiality thresholds documented with qualitative and quantitative decision rules
  • Inevitability, severity and likelihood distinguished within human-rights impact assessment
  • Materiality matrix constructed from evidence, scoring and management validation
  • ESRS double materiality process documented for reviewer challenge and assurance

Participants can define reporting boundaries and prioritise value-chain data collection.

  • Organisational boundaries set using equity share, financial control and operational control
  • Operational boundaries mapped across facilities, fleets, products and services
  • Value-chain mapping identifies upstream suppliers, downstream users and end-of-life stages
  • Data ownership assigned across subsidiaries, joint ventures and outsourced operations
  • Boundary changes tracked after acquisitions, disposals, restructurings and outsourcing
  • Estimation protocols defined where primary value-chain data remains unavailable

Participants can calculate and document Scope 1 emissions using GHG Protocol principles.

  • GHG Protocol principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency and accuracy
  • Stationary combustion emissions calculated from fuel consumption and emission factors
  • Mobile combustion inventories built from fleet fuel, mileage and refrigerant records
  • Process emissions identified for manufacturing, chemical production and industrial activities
  • Fugitive emissions calculated from refrigerants, methane releases and equipment losses
  • Base-year selection, recalculation policy and structural change thresholds

Participants can prepare location-based and market-based Scope 2 emissions disclosures.

  • Location-based Scope 2 calculated using grid-average electricity emission factors
  • Market-based Scope 2 calculated using contractual instruments and supplier data
  • Energy attribute certificates assessed for quality criteria and claim validity
  • Residual mix factors applied where contractual electricity attributes are absent
  • Purchased steam, heat and cooling included within Scope 2 boundaries
  • Dual reporting reconciled through documented methods, factors and assumptions

Participants can prioritise and calculate material Scope 3 emission categories.

  • Fifteen Scope 3 categories screened using spend, activity and lifecycle data
  • Hybrid calculation methods combine supplier data, activity data and estimates
  • Spend-based methods tested against sector-specific emission factor limitations
  • Supplier engagement requests specify activity data, boundaries and calculation methods
  • Purchased goods calculations distinguish cradle-to-gate and full lifecycle emissions
  • Scope 3 uncertainty assessed through data quality scoring and sensitivity analysis

Participants can design controlled ESG data flows suitable for management review and assurance.

  • ESG data dictionary defines metrics, units, boundaries, sources and calculation rules
  • Data lineage maps source systems, transformations, approvals and reporting outputs
  • Control activities cover completeness, accuracy, timeliness, validity and authorisation
  • Evidence packs retain invoices, meter readings, contracts and calculation workpapers
  • Management review controls challenge variances, outliers and methodology changes
  • KPI owners certify reported data through documented quarterly attestations

Participants can prepare ESG disclosures and evidence for limited or reasonable assurance.

  • Limited assurance procedures compared with reasonable assurance evidence requirements
  • ISAE 3000 principles applied to non-financial assurance engagement preparation
  • ISAE 3410 considerations applied to greenhouse gas statement assurance
  • Audit trails connect disclosed metrics to source documents and approvals
  • Control deficiencies classified by severity, root cause and remediation owner
  • Assurance requests managed through evidence logs, status tracking and escalation

Participants can identify climate risks and develop scenario-based reporting inputs.

  • Physical risks classified as acute hazards and chronic climate shifts
  • Transition risks assessed across policy, technology, market, legal and reputation drivers
  • Climate scenarios selected using credible assumptions, time horizons and decision relevance
  • Scenario analysis tests revenue, costs, assets, supply chains and financing
  • Climate risk registers connect exposures, controls, owners and residual risk
  • Financial effects estimated using sensitivity analysis and documented assumptions

Participants can structure a credible climate transition plan with measurable milestones.

  • Transition plan components link baseline, targets, actions, finance and governance
  • Science-based target concepts distinguish near-term targets from net-zero commitments
  • Decarbonisation levers assessed through marginal abatement cost curve methods
  • Capital expenditure plans connected to emissions reduction actions and milestones
  • Offset claims separated from gross emissions reductions and removals
  • Transition-plan progress monitored through leading indicators and annual target reviews

Participants can identify nature-related reporting priorities using TNFD concepts.

  • TNFD LEAP approach identifies nature interfaces, dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities
  • Location screening prioritises sites near sensitive ecosystems and water-stressed areas
  • Nature dependencies assessed for water, soil, pollination and ecosystem services
  • Biodiversity metrics distinguished between pressures, state indicators and response measures
  • Deforestation and land-use risks mapped through commodity sourcing pathways
  • Nature disclosures linked with governance, strategy, risk management and metrics

Participants can prepare material social disclosures supported by due diligence evidence.

  • UN Guiding Principles applied to human-rights due diligence processes
  • Salient human-rights issues prioritised by severity, likelihood and stakeholder vulnerability
  • Workforce metrics defined for headcount, turnover, pay and safety performance
  • Supply-chain labour risks assessed through country, commodity and supplier screening
  • Grievance data analysed for recurring harms, remedy quality and escalation
  • Social claims substantiated through policies, performance data and remediation records

Participants can connect ESG disclosures to investor questions, financing and capital allocation.

  • Investor ESG questions translated into evidence-backed disclosures and management responses
  • EU Taxonomy concepts distinguish eligibility, alignment and minimum safeguards
  • Green bond frameworks link use-of-proceeds reporting with impact metrics
  • Sustainability-linked loan KPIs tested for materiality, ambition and verification
  • Enterprise value effects considered when communicating sustainability-related financial risks
  • Analyst briefing materials reconcile ESG narrative, metrics, targets and financial statements

Participants can review sustainability claims for accuracy, evidence and misleading omissions.

  • Claim inventories classify environmental, social, product and corporate statements
  • Substantiation files connect claims to methodologies, evidence and approval records
  • Material omissions tested against reasonable stakeholder interpretation and decision use
  • Comparative claims require consistent boundaries, baselines, methods and time periods
  • Net-zero statements reviewed for target scope, milestones and offset treatment
  • Marketing review workflows involve legal, sustainability, technical and communications owners

Participants can integrate ESG metrics with strategy, risk management and performance reporting.

  • Integrated reporting connects capitals, business model, strategy, performance and outlook
  • ESG dashboards distinguish leading indicators, outcome metrics and target progress
  • Balanced scorecard design incorporates environmental, social and governance performance measures
  • Enterprise risk management links ESG risks to appetite, controls and monitoring
  • Management commentary explains performance drivers, trade-offs and corrective actions
  • Internal reporting packs support executive decisions before external publication

Participants can create a phased implementation roadmap for an ESG reporting programme.

  • Gap assessment compares current disclosures against selected reporting requirements
  • Reporting roadmap sequences governance, data, policy, control and publication milestones
  • Work breakdown structure assigns deliverables, dependencies, resources and accountable owners
  • Materiality refresh cycles aligned with strategic planning and reporting timetables
  • Change management addresses data-owner capability, incentives and reporting discipline
  • Implementation risks monitored through milestones, issue logs and steering committees

Participants can build, review and present a complete assurance-ready ESG reporting package for a corporate case.

  • Materiality assessment findings translated into selected reportable sustainability matters
  • Standards crosswalk identifies required disclosures, evidence and accountable data owners
  • GHG inventory summary documents boundaries, calculations, factors and uncertainty
  • Climate transition plan links targets, actions, capital expenditure and governance
  • Data-control matrix specifies evidence, approvals, review frequency and remediation
  • Peer assurance review tests disclosure completeness, traceability and claim substantiation
  • Executive presentation communicates reporting decisions, gaps, risks and implementation priorities

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Double materiality assessment template
  2. ESG reporting standards crosswalk
  3. GHG inventory calculation model
  4. ESG data-control matrix
  5. Climate transition-plan framework
  6. Assurance-readiness evidence checklist

Who should attend

  • Sustainability Managers — responsible for building credible reporting processes and disclosures
  • ESG Reporting Specialists — need technical command of standards, data and assurance evidence
  • Finance Managers — connect sustainability information with annual reporting and financial planning
  • Risk Managers — integrate climate, nature and social risks into enterprise risk processes
  • Internal Auditors — assess ESG controls, source evidence and assurance readiness
  • Investor Relations and Communications Managers — communicate substantiated ESG performance to external stakeholders

Skills and tools covered

ESG reporting designDouble materiality assessmentGHG inventory managementClimate risk disclosureESG data assuranceTransition planning

Tools and standards

GRI Standards, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, European Sustainability Reporting Standards, GHG Protocol

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short technical briefings followed by realistic corporate reporting cases from banking, manufacturing, energy, consumer goods and public-interest sectors. Participants interpret disclosure requirements, assess evidence, test calculation assumptions, review peer work and respond to simulated assurance queries. Group exercises focus on materiality, emissions boundaries, data controls, climate-risk disclosures and reporting decisions. Facilitated discussions examine difficult trade-offs between completeness, reliability, comparability and reporting effort. Individual application planning helps participants adapt course outputs to their own reporting cycle, governance arrangements and available data.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should understand basic corporate sustainability concepts, common ESG terminology and how their organisation currently reports environmental or social information. Experience in finance, risk, sustainability, operations, audit, investor relations or corporate reporting is helpful. Participants should be comfortable reading management reports, working with spreadsheet-based data and discussing organisational performance metrics. Prior experience with GRI, ESRS, IFRS S1, IFRS S2, carbon accounting or assurance engagements is not required. The course explains these frameworks before applying them to reporting decisions and workpapers.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

Participants need basic familiarity with ESG or sustainability concepts and experience working with organisational performance information. Prior use of GRI, ESRS, ISSB standards, carbon accounting methods or assurance processes is not required.

Bring a laptop for reviewing templates, calculations and reporting cases. Participants may also bring a recent sustainability report, annual report, emissions inventory or reporting challenge from their organisation.

It is designed for sustainability, ESG reporting, finance, risk, audit, operations, investor relations and communications professionals. It is particularly useful for teams preparing new disclosures or strengthening evidence for assurance.

This course concentrates on the reporting system behind sustainability commitments: materiality, standards, metrics, emissions, controls, evidence and assurance. A general strategy course typically gives greater attention to strategic ambition, stakeholder positioning and programme design.

Participants produce reusable reporting workpapers throughout the course, including a standards crosswalk, materiality design, data-control matrix and assurance checklist. These can be adapted to an upcoming reporting cycle or gap-assessment project.

The first week establishes standards, governance, materiality, boundaries and emissions accounting. The second week focuses on controls, assurance, climate and nature disclosures, sustainable finance, implementation planning and the final reporting capstone.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

More courses in ESG & Sustainability Reporting

ESG & Sustainability Reporting Carbon Footprint Measurement and Reduction Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting Carbon Footprint and Net Zero Delivery Training Course 10 days · from USD 2,200 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting Carbon Management and Decarbonisation Strategy Training Course 10 days · from USD 2,200 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting Corporate Sustainability Strategy Training Course 10 days · from USD 2,200 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting ESG Governance Training Course 10 days · from USD 2,200 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting ESG and Sustainability Masterclass Training Course 10 days · from USD 2,200 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting ESG and Sustainable Growth Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov ESG & Sustainability Reporting Sustainability and Climate Compliance Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov