Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA)-focused financial hub Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) announced the launch of the “1 Million Learners” initiative, aimed at helping to build a skilled workforce “capable of driving sustainable economic growth,” and with a goal of equipping one million individuals with knowledge in sustainability and sustainable finance by 2030.
The program seeks to redefine how sustainability education is delivered at scale, equipping a new generation of professionals with the knowledge to drive meaningful change, DIFC said, adding that it seeks to ensure that the 1 Million Learners initiative achieves scale while delivering meaningful benefits for communities, particularly in underserved regions.
The new initiative is being launched as demand for sustainability-related skills is increasing globally as companies and countries globally begin to take action on implementing their climate and sustainability-related commitments, and to meet growing sustainability reporting and regulatory compliance requirements.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said:
“DIFC is proud to be leading the way in advancing sustainability in the region. The ‘1 Million Learners’ initiative is a testament to our belief that real impact begins with education. By working closely with our valued partners, we are making sustainability knowledge more accessible and ensuring the region remains at the forefront of global sustainable transformation.”
The initiative is backed by a coalition of 29 founding partners, among them international firms, institutions, and organizations including London Stock Exchange Group, Mastercard, Oxford & Cambridge Society of the UAE, PwC Middle East, S&P Global, United Nations Development Program, and Visa. GIST Impact, an international organization that quantifies environmental, social and economic outcomes, will ensure that the program delivers measurable outcomes, DIFC added.
DIFC added that it has appointed impact data and analytics provider GIST Impact as its impact knowledge partner for the initiative, to ensure that the program delivers measurable outcomes.
GIST Impact said:
“This programme marks a meaningful step toward building widespread impact literacy. We look forward to helping shape the tools, knowledge, and practices that will empower the current and next generation of decision-makers.”
