The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) officially launched the 'One Million Learners' initiative on Tuesday, designed to educate one million people about sustainability and sustainable finance by the year 2030. This announcement was made during the Dubai FinTech Summit, held in Jumeirah, Dubai, as part of the DIFC's Sustainable Finance Initiative.

The 'One Million Learners' initiative underscores the DIFC's commitment to shaping a future where financial growth aligns with environmental and social responsibility.

It aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand sustainable finance, thereby fostering inclusive, resilient communities ready to meet future challenges.

Commenting on the initiative, Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority, stated, "We take pride in leading sustainability efforts in the region.

The 'One Million Learners' initiative exemplifies our belief that real impact begins with education.

Through close collaboration with our strategic partners, we aim to make sustainability knowledge accessible to everyone everywhere, ensuring our region is at the forefront of the global sustainability transition."

The initiative is backed by a distinguished alliance of 28 founding partners, including major institutions committed to promoting sustainability knowledge.

Notable partners comprise the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Climate Policy Centre (C3), Candriam Academy, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, the Clean Energy Industries Council, the CFA Institute, and many others.

In collaboration with these partners, the DIFC is preparing to transform how sustainability education is delivered on a large scale, empowering a new generation of change-makers and professionals to lead through a clear-cut goal.

To ensure the intended impact of the initiative, the DIFC has appointed GIST Impact as a partner to develop a comprehensive impact assessment and reporting framework.

GIST Impact, a global leader in comprehensive impact assessment, brings 17 years of experience in identifying environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

The company employs scientific methodologies aligned with leading international frameworks and standards, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

This strategic partnership will enable the DIFC to establish a thorough framework for impact assessment and reporting, allowing for precise measurement of the initiative's outcomes and transparent communication of progress with various stakeholders.

GIST Impact possesses unique capabilities in translating social outcomes—such as improved access to education, enhanced equality, and provision of livelihoods—into accurate, measurable insights.

This will contribute to ensuring that the 'One Million Learners' initiative not only achieves broad outreach but also creates a tangible and sustainable impact in communities, particularly in underserved and needy areas.