Public and Third Sector Academy for Sustainable Finance (P3SA)
P3S Academy at the University of Oxford - a global centre of learning on sustainable finance for the public and third sector
The Public and Third Sector Academy for Sustainable Finance (P3SA) at
the University of Oxford is a global centre of learning and capacity building focused on enabling the public and third sectors to grasp the opportunities associated with sustainable finance.
By empowering organisations – especially in developing and emerging economies – to navigate rapidly evolving areas such as transition planning, responsible investment, carbon markets, AI, nature finance, food systems and management of climate- related risks, P3SA supports a worldwide shift away from unsustainable activities and toward investments that can help secure a more resilient global economy.
Courses
The Academy’s courses provide capacity development on essential concepts, applied tools, and emerging topics shaping sustainable finance across the public and third sectors. Explore our courses below to find practical, targeted learning that builds the capabilities needed to drive real‑world impact.
Introduction to Sustainable Finance Course
The course provides public servants and third sector representatives with an understanding of the main concepts, theories, and issues in making sustainable investment decisions. The course will enable participants to explore developments in the field, and identify and activate levers of change.
Masterclass on Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Finance
This masterclass is designed to provide participants with the foundational knowledge and critical perspective needed to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, and to lead with confidence in a future where data and algorithms increasingly shape how we define and deliver sustainability.
Introduction to Sustainable Finance Course
The course provides public servants and third sector representatives with an understanding of the main concepts, theories, and issues in making sustainable investment decisions. The course will enable participants to explore developments in the field, and identify and activate levers of change.
Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Finance
This masterclass is designed to provide participants with the foundational knowledge and critical perspective needed to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, and to lead with confidence in a future where data and algorithms increasingly shape how we define and deliver sustainability.
Transition Planning
This Masterclass provides public servants and third sector representatives with a holistic understanding of private sector transition planning. It aims to equip participants with the knowledge of why transition plans matter, what to look for in a “good” transition plan and identify and mobilise the levers they have for encouraging companies and financial institutions to deliver ambitious and action-oriented plans.
Food Systems and Sustainable Finance
This Masterclass is designed to share a clear and actionable understanding of how food systems intersect with finance, and why transforming them is essential to achieving climate, biodiversity, health, and development goals.
International Carbon Markets
The Masterclass in International Carbon Markets equips professionals with a deep understanding of the complexities and evolving dynamics of reaching global net zero through use of market mechanisms.
Climate Finance
This course is for anyone working in government, at any level of seniority, who’s interested in the role and workings of climate finance and wants to understand how they can engage with it.
Engaging with high integrity Carbon Markets under Article 6
The UNFCCC Secretariat and University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and Environment invite applications from government officials to participate in the Article 6 Academy.
Nature Finance
This Masterclass is for public sector professionals across governments, central banks and regulators, as well as philanthropic organisations and civil society to understand nature finance and have an improved grasp of the current landscape and developments, to accelerate the policy dialogue and create innovative, scalable and effective solutions.
Why Sustainable Finance Matters
The transition to a sustainable future requires rapid
mobilisation of capital—and the public and third sectors play
a critical role. As global risks grow and new financial tools
emerge, policymakers and civil society need the capability
to respond. Public and third sectors need to better
understand finance and investment in order to design and execute interventions that can help to align the global
financial system with sustainability.
Who We Support
- central or local government
- regulatory agencies
- supervisory authorities
- central banks
- multilateral institutions
- non-profit civil society organisations
- registered charities
- philanthropic organisations
P3SA works with strategic partners and organisations globally, with a particular focus on supporting developing and emerging economies.
Powered by Oxford’s Expertise
The Academy is part of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford. We are a leading multi-disciplinary global centre for research and teaching in sustainable finance. Our programmes draw on our cutting-edge research and are delivered by world-leading faculty and expert practitioners from across Oxford’s networks.
Bespoke Learning and Advisory Support
P3SA has an approach to pedagogy that is tried, trusted and respected. We have deep experience of public and third sector learning and capacity development on sustainable finance. Alongside our courses, we offer customised programmes and advisory engagements designed to build practical capability in sustainable finance. We welcome enquires for bespoke programmes and tailored learning packages.
Newsletter Updates
Our newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with regular updates on our events, courses, and the latest developments from the P3S Academy.
OxSFG was established in 2012 and is a multidisciplinary research centre working to be the world’s best place for research and teaching on sustainable finance and investment. We work globally across asset classes, finance professions, and with different parts of the financial system.