Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) successfully concluded a comprehensive training program on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) Guidelines and Nepal Green Finance Taxonomy across several Provinces throughout the country.
Recognizing Nepal’s high vulnerability to climate change, the initiative aimed to strengthen the banking sector’s capacity to integrate sustainability principles into financial decision-making and risk assessment processes. The training was designed to deepen banking professional’s understanding of ESG frameworks, equip them with the practical knowledge to implement the ESRM Guidelines issued by Nepal Rastra Bank, and enhance their knowledge of the recently introduced Green Finance Taxonomy to support climate-resilient financing in the country.
The training program covered several key thematic areas essential for building sustainability capacity within the banking sector. The session on the introduction to ESG and Sustainable Financing, emphasized the global shift toward responsible finance and how ESG integration can drive long-term value creation while mitigating financial and non-financial risks. The session on Nepal Rastra Bank’s ESRM Guidelines provided in-depth guidance on identifying and managing environmental and social risks as part of credit assessment and monitoring processes.
Another important component of the training was the session on Nepal’s Green Finance Taxonomy, which introduced the basic concepts, fundamental principles of the taxonomy and supported participants in understanding how to identify, categorize and finance green projects. In addition, the training facilitated discussions on the prevailing challenges and emerging opportunities in implementing sustainable finance in Nepal’s banking landscape. Discussions also emphasized the growing role of banks and financial institutions in supporting Nepal’s transition to a green economy and the importance of embedding ESG into banking operations at all levels.
The training was conducted across several Provinces of Nepal, where over 300 banking professionals, including Province Heads, Branch Managers, Credit and Risk Officers attended the program. The trainings were facilitated by ESG-Certified Trainers who had recently completed the Training of Trainers (ToT) program conducted by NBA in collaboration with the UFP Barcelona School of Management. These trainers brought a unique blend of practical insights and policy-oriented perspectives, enabling participants to gain both foundational understanding and applied knowledge on ESG, ESRM, and Green Finance practices.
