Frequently asked questions

Yes. AFA is officially accredited by Togo's Ministry Delegate for Higher Education and Research, under Decree n° 044/2026/MD-ESRS/SG/DES. It appears as n° 89 on the List of accredited higher education institutions for the 2026-2027 academic year, published on 24 July 2026 and signed by the Minister Delegate for Higher Education and Research of Togo. This accreditation gives AFA full authority to award degrees recognised by the Togolese State. The institute is run by the NGO Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA), registered with the Ministry of Territorial Administration (receipt n°1151/MATDDT-SG-DLPAP-DOCA of 2 December 2021) and recognised as a development NGO on 29 August 2024 (n°1043/PR/MPDC/2024).

Yes. The degree awarded is a Professional Bachelor's in Climate Finance, structured into semesters, course units and credits, following the BMD (Bachelor-Master-Doctorate) architecture used in Togolese higher education. Under law n°2017-005 on higher education, AFA's accreditation by the Ministry Delegate for Higher Education and Research authorises the institution to award, on behalf of the Togolese State, degrees with the same standing as those of public and private institutions in Togo that appear on the official list of accredited higher education institutions.

The programme follows the BMD (Bachelor-Master-Doctorate) architecture, the shared framework for higher education in West Africa and across the CAMES region (African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education), compatible with European and international systems. AFA degrees are therefore internationally legible and allow graduates to continue their studies (Master's, PhD) at universities or any other institution that recognises the BMD system.

AFA is actively developing academic and institutional partnerships with African and international universities, as well as with climate finance institutions (Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund, multilateral development banks). Even before launching its academic programme, the Adaptation Finance Academy (AFA) stood out on the international stage. In 2025, it was selected among nearly 50 international initiatives as one of three breakthrough initiatives of the first cohort of the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) Accelerator, an award unveiled at New York Climate Week. These partnerships aim to facilitate student mobility, co-supervision of final dissertations, co-organisation of seminars and hosting visiting lecturers or experts.

AFA offers a Professional Bachelor's in Climate Finance in the field of Economics and Management Sciences, Management Sciences major, split into three (3) specialisations:

• Climate Finance and Sustainable Development — mobilising international climate funds (Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility), structuring climate projects, climate risk management and sustainable development policy analysis.
• Climate Investment Management — sustainable investment strategies, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria, green finance, climate bonds, the carbon market, climate due diligence and managing carbon-neutral-aligned portfolios.
• Climate Economics and Policy — economic modelling of climate impacts (a specialisation open to school-leavers and suited to public and private sector professionals), evaluation of public climate policies (Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, etc.), public-private partnerships and climate governance in Africa.

AFA is starting with the Professional Bachelor's in Climate Finance (3 years post-secondary). The progressive development of Master's programmes, followed by doctoral programmes and certifying continuing education, is planned for the short and medium term.

Yes. The programmes were designed in direct response to the growing demand for professionals able to manage climate financing in Africa, within ministries, national agencies, financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, consulting firms, companies and donors. This demand reflects the scale of the continent's climate finance gap: African countries need $2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 to address the impacts of climate change (mainly to implement Nationally Determined Contributions), or $277 billion a year, while they currently receive only 11% of that (UNDP, Climate Finance in Africa, September 2024). This gap is worsened by a lack of technical capacity and qualified experts able to structure bankable projects — a skills gap AFA intends to address directly. Course units cover preparing proposals for major climate funds (Green Climate Fund - GCF, Adaptation Fund - AF, Global Environment Facility - GEF), financial analysis of climate projects, carbon markets, innovative financing mechanisms (blended finance, green bonds), monitoring and evaluation, and risk management.

During the first two semesters, courses are taught mainly in French, complemented by dedicated English classes that progressively prepare students for the rest of the programme. From the third semester onwards, half of the courses are taught in English, in line with the requirements of the climate finance sector.

The degree is a Professional Bachelor's by design, which includes a 6-month professional placement in semester 6, within an organisation involved in climate finance (NGO, bank, ministry, international institution, consulting firm, etc.). Short, certifying courses for working professionals in the public and private sectors are also under development.

Admission to the Professional Bachelor's in Climate Finance is open mainly to holders of a general or technical secondary school baccalauréat, or any other recognised equivalent qualification. Baccalauréat tracks that provide particularly relevant grounding include series C, D, E, F, G and Ti.

Enrolment takes place in four steps: Online pre-registration — check the institution's website (www.afa.tg) or visit the institution to learn the dates and terms, fill in the pre-registration form (personal information, desired specialisation, choice of study track and course units) and upload the required scanned documents. Compiling the application file — gathering the required documents, in original and copy. Submitting the file online — uploading the required documents within the deadlines set by the institution. Validation of enrolment — the registrar's office reviews the file, followed by a notification of acceptance or rejection. Once enrolment is validated, a student ID number is automatically assigned.

The application file includes:

• A certified copy of the high school diploma or any equivalent credential, along with the corresponding transcripts
• A certified copy of the birth certificate
• A certified copy of the certificate of nationality or a duplicate thereof
• A statement of purpose specifying the chosen specialty
• A recent passport-size photo
• A medical certificate issued within the last three months
• Parental consent for minor applicants
• Proof of payment of the application fee, to be provided only after the application has been accepted and not at the time of pre-registration

The registration fee, the same across all three specialisations, is set at 80,000 FCFA per student per academic year.

Admission is based on a review of the application file, combined in some cases with a motivation interview before a panel of lecturers and industry professionals. An online written test may be organised to assess the applicant's entry level and help direct them to the specialisation best suited to their profile.

Pre-registration and enrolment open on 1 September, ahead of an academic orientation week starting on 6 October and classes effectively starting on 12 October. Depending on the places available, the enrolment period may be extended to allow registration for a few more weeks after the start of term.

Yes. The entire enrolment process is completed online, from pre-registration to final enrolment, including uploading the application's supporting documents, through the institution's digital platform: www.afa.tg. The platform lets applicants submit their file, track its progress and receive notification of the admission decision. Phone and in-person support is also available for applicants who want assistance with their application from AFA's front office.

Tuition fees, set according to year of study, are as follows (all specialisations):

• First year — 750,000 FCFA for national students, 1,250,000 FCFA for international students
• Second year — 1,000,000 FCFA for national students, 1,500,000 FCFA for international students
• Third year — 1,200,000 FCFA for national students, 1,700,000 FCFA for international students

The registration fee, the same across all specialisations, is set at 80,000 FCFA per student per academic year. It covers reviewing the application file, issuing the student card, access to the library and digital resources, and the associated administrative costs. On top of this, 75,000 FCFA is charged for two school uniforms. Payment terms, including options for spreading tuition fee payments, along with other applicable financial arrangements, are detailed in the financial terms provided at enrolment.

Yes. An instalment payment scheme is available. The precise terms (number of instalments, due dates, any penalties) are communicated at enrolment by the accounting department, which tracks payments in coordination with the registrar's office.

AFA is developing a merit-based scholarship policy. Partnerships with public institutions, companies and donors may also enable specific scholarships to be awarded. Criteria are published each year and assessed by a dedicated committee.

AFA's teaching staff combine researcher-lecturers holding a Master's or a PhD, in line with Togolese higher education standards, along with experienced professional experts from financial institutions, climate funds (Green Climate Fund - GCF, Adaptation Fund - AF) and multilateral development banks. Master's holders lead the applied, professional and project-methodology course units, while PhD holders teach specialisation modules, research seminars, supervise dissertations and oversee scientific work.

Yes. Lecturers and guest speakers combine academic experience (research, publications, supervising students) with hands-on experience in climate finance, project development, public policy, ESG and international cooperation. This dual expertise ensures training that is both scientifically rigorous and directly relevant on the ground.

AFA targets 30 students per specialisation, for a total of 90 students per cohort. This cohort size, combined with permanent lecturers and specialised part-time instructors, allows for a high level of supervision and personalised support for each student.

Assessment combines continuous assessment and final exams in each course unit. A course unit is passed with a grade of 12/20 or above; for a composite unit, the grade is the average of its constituent parts. Graduating requires passing all course units, completing the professional placement, and successfully defending the final dissertation/placement report.

AFA graduates are prepared for high-value roles in a fast-growing sector, including:

• Climate and environment project officer in ministries, national agencies, local authorities and NGOs
• Climate finance analyst / ESG analyst in banks, financial institutions and investment funds
• Programme officer within climate donors and funds (GCF, AF, GEF, multilateral banks, bilateral cooperation agencies)
• Consultant in adaptation and mitigation project development
• Entrepreneur in green finance and advisory services

The mandatory 6-month professional placement is completed within organisations active in climate finance (ministries, financial institutions, NGOs, consulting firms). AFA draws on its network of institutional partnerships to help identify host organisations and provides academic supervision of the placement through to its assessment.

Yes. A dedicated placements and employability service supports students throughout their programme: identifying host organisations (ministries, financial institutions, NGOs, consulting firms, international agencies), preparing applications, arranging placement agreements, academic supervision of the placement and its assessment.

Yes. An "Employability and entrepreneurship" course unit is built into the programme: job and entrepreneurship readiness workshops, mock interviews, job search techniques and professional networking within the climate finance sector. This module draws on AFA's institutional partnerships to help connect students with employers and donors in the sector.

AFA is located in Tokoin, Casablanca, Lomé (Togo), near NSIA Assurances Casablanca. Its administrative headquarters are at the same address.

Yes. Classrooms are bright and equipped with projectors, flat screens and audio systems. Each can host around thirty students, meeting the comfort standards expected of higher education (air conditioning, soundproofing, ergonomic furniture).

Yes. AFA has a digital library providing access to a regularly updated collection, including academic works, specialised journals, as well as reference reports and publications from the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other specialised institutions.

Yes. One room is dedicated to applied work. Tutorial and practical work rooms equipped with recent computers and specialised software host data analysis, modelling and simulation exercises.

Yes. High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout all buildings (classrooms, library, administrative offices). A multimedia room and an internal server support hybrid classes, virtual conferences and distance learning through a dedicated platform.

Yes. AFA regularly organises conferences, seminars and workshops with national and international climate and green finance experts, as well as networking events.

Yes. The institution provides a multipurpose room for conferences, seminars, cultural and artistic activities, as well as communal spaces (cafeteria, relaxation areas) that encourage interaction, socialising and community life.

Yes. An academic service supports specialisation choices, study plans, putting together scholarship applications, and preparing for placements and employment.

Yes. Every student is assigned an academic tutor and receives individual support (results reviews, progress plans, methodology coaching). This close supervision is made possible by the small cohort sizes.

Academic support is built into the programme (tutoring, catch-up classes, methodology workshops). A confidential listening and psychosocial support service, run in partnership with health professionals, is available to students who need it.

Yes. An international students' welcome service supports administrative procedures (visa, residence permit, degree equivalence, housing, opening a bank account, insurance) and helps with academic and social integration in Lomé.

Yes. AFA is building a network of national and international partners including public institutions, banks and financial institutions, NGOs, consulting firms, cooperation agencies and climate funds. These partnerships translate into hosting interns, co-designing course units, supervised projects, conferences and targeted recruitment.

Yes. A 6-month professional placement is mandatory in semester 6, within an organisation involved in climate finance (NGO, financial institution, bank, ministry, consulting firm, etc.). It leads to a report and a defence before an academic and professional panel.

Yes. Students can complete their placement abroad with international institutions, climate funds, donors, international NGOs or partner universities. AFA facilitates the introductions, the placement agreement and remote academic supervision.

Even before launching its academic programme, the Adaptation Finance Academy (AFA) stood out on the international stage. In 2025, it was selected among nearly 50 international initiatives as one of three breakthrough initiatives of the first cohort of the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) Accelerator, an award unveiled at New York Climate Week. Partnerships continue to develop around climate finance institutions (Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund), multilateral development banks, United Nations agencies, and African and international universities. The up-to-date list of partners is published on the institution's website.

Yes. The site has fire extinguishers, emergency exits, evacuation signage, safety lighting and permanent security staff. An internal safety and risk management plan is in place, in compliance with Togolese regulations.

Yes. A health post and an infirmary provide first aid and health prevention on site. Separate men's and women's washrooms, permanent access to drinking water and functioning sanitation facilities complete the setup.

Yes. An academic and disciplinary code of conduct governs student life (attendance, exams, behaviour, use of digital equipment, plagiarism, harassment, safety). It is given to every student at enrolment and will be published on the internal platform.

Yes. Teaching integrates modern digital tools: interactive whiteboards, financial and statistical analysis software, GIS tools, e-learning platforms, scientific databases, and an introduction to artificial intelligence applied to climate finance.

Yes. An integrated academic management system and an online learning platform let students follow classes both in person and remotely, access course materials, submit assignments, communicate with lecturers, and check their grades and timetables.

The Professional Bachelor's is designed primarily as an on-campus programme, complemented by hybrid sessions (on-campus/remote) for certain course units, and by distance-learning capability via Microsoft Teams and the internal platform.

Yes. The degree is a Professional Bachelor's in Climate Finance, compliant with the BMD system and internationally legible. It is awarded by an institution officially accredited by Togo's Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Africa's climate finance market suffers from a significant shortage of qualified professionals, even as climate finance needs run into hundreds of billions of dollars. AFA graduates are trained for roles directly sought after by ministries, financial institutions, climate funds, NGOs and the private sector.

The registration fee is set at 80,000 FCFA per academic year, for both national and international students. On top of this come the following tuition fees:

• National students — 750,000 FCFA in year 1, 1,000,000 FCFA in year 2 and 1,200,000 FCFA in year 3
• International students — 1,250,000 FCFA in year 1, 1,500,000 FCFA in year 2 and 1,700,000 FCFA in year 3

Over the full three years of the programme, the total cost, registration fees included, comes to 3,190,000 FCFA for national students and 4,690,000 FCFA for international students. An instalment payment scheme is available to make settling tuition fees easier.

Yes. The teaching staff combine researcher-lecturers holding a PhD or a Master's degree with recognised professional experts from national and international climate and financial institutions.

Yes. The site has a comprehensive safety setup (permanent security staff, fire extinguishers, safety lighting, emergency exits, CCTV) and a health post for first aid.

Yes. Cohorts are deliberately kept small (30 students per specialisation). Every student is assigned an academic tutor, with individual follow-up, employability support and a guidance service.

Yes. AFA is officially accredited by Togo's Ministry Delegate for Higher Education and Research (n°89 on the list of 24 July 2026, Decree n° 044/2026/MD-ESRS/SG/DES). It is run by Sustainable Solutions for Africa, a development NGO recognised by the Togolese State since 2021 and active in climate projects across Africa. The institute is based on its own site in Casablanca, Lomé (Togo) and relies on a structured academic governance (general management, academic direction, administrative direction, finance, IT and library services).

Yes. AFA is building its network of national and international partners (universities, climate funds, multilateral banks, NGOs, ministries, companies), with formal agreements progressively published on official channels. In 2025, it was selected among nearly 50 international initiatives as one of three breakthrough initiatives of the first cohort of the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) Accelerator, an award unveiled at New York Climate Week. These partnerships aim to facilitate student mobility, co-supervision of final dissertations, co-organisation of seminars and hosting visiting lecturers or experts.

Yes. A mandatory 6-month professional placement is built into the programme, with full support from AFA (identifying host organisations, placement agreements, supervision, assessment).

AFA offers a programme dedicated to climate finance in Africa, at the crossroads of climate science, finance and economics. The training directly targets roles in high demand within climate funds, banks, ministries and private-sector organisations, with teaching centred on real African case studies and international frameworks.

• A programme structured according to the BMD system and accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research
• Teaching staff combining PhD holders, Master's holders and recognised professional experts
• Deliberately small cohorts (30 per specialisation, 90 per intake) for close supervision
• Modern facilities: equipped classrooms, a practical work room, a physical and digital library, high-speed Wi-Fi
• An integrated academic management system and hybrid teaching platform

The programme combines (i) rigorous theoretical teaching (climate science, economics, finance, law), (ii) applied teaching (financial analysis of climate projects, preparing GCF/AF/GEF proposals, carbon markets, ESG, blended finance), (iii) cross-cutting teaching (professional English, climate communication, applied computing, AI) and (iv) a mandatory 6-month professional immersion.

Even before launching its academic programme, the Adaptation Finance Academy (AFA) stood out on the international stage. In 2025, it was selected among nearly 50 international initiatives as one of three breakthrough initiatives of the first cohort of the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) Accelerator, an award unveiled at New York Climate Week. AFA is building its ecosystem around climate funds (GCF, Adaptation Fund, GEF), multilateral banks, United Nations agencies, African and international universities, as well as public and private players in the climate, finance and environment sectors.

• Individual academic tutoring and a guidance service
• Support with scholarships, mobility and administrative procedures
• A dedicated service for placements, employability and entrepreneurship
• Academic support and psychosocial listening
• A dedicated welcome service for international students

In addition to the mandatory 6-month placement, AFA promotes climate entrepreneurship through a dedicated "Employability and entrepreneurship" module, project-building workshops, facilitated access to partner incubators, and active introductions to recruiters in the sector.

• Teaching innovation — real-world case studies, responsible use of artificial intelligence, digital platforms
• Academic ethics and integrity — a strict anti-plagiarism policy, a code of ethics, transparent assessment
• Excellence — rigorous recruitment of lecturers and students, BMD standards, scientific publications, participation in international networks
• Environmental responsibility — solar lighting, waste sorting, paper recycling, active student awareness of the ecological transition