Islamic Finance for the Sustainable Development Goals

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), IsDB Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Fund – Engage Platform, Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI), Durham University Business School, UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are pleased to provide this free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “Islamic Finance for the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Positioning Islamic finance as broadly relevant to Sustainable Development Goals and not only a niche proposition, this course is the first of its kind designed for capacity building in order to engage development professionals and Islamic finance partners for leveraging this vital source for financing sustainable development.

From the resemblance of Islamic finance principles to the objectives outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals, to the potential of Islamic microfinance in socioeconomic empowerment; this course brings theory and practice together with the authoring and video lecturing contributions of 27 leading subject matter experts.

A certificate of completion only indicates the completion of the course. It does not imply proficiency in the subject matter, nor should it be seen as a professional certification.

The views expressed in this course are those of the instructors and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations, including UNDP, or the UN Member States.

What you'll learn

• Understand the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Define the financing mechanisms for sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Acquire extended awareness and comfortable communication in Islamic finance, as well as enhanced understanding of Islamic finance principles and the requirements of Islamic finance partners
• Build effective dialogue and partnerships within the global development community and Islamic finance stakeholders
• Outline which program design and policy requirements may be needed to engage with Islamic finance
• Identify projects and develop policies related to the Sustainable Development Goals that accommodate requirements pertaining to Islamic finance
• Develop blended finance solutions combining Islamic social and commercial finance instruments with technology and innovation
• Explore how Islamic finance instruments and institutions can be utilized to support the Sustainable Development Goals through real-world case studies