Finance, investment and resource mobilisation

Organisations operate in an environment where funding needs are increasing whilst resources remain limited, subject to competition and to heightened demands for transparency, profitability, impact and risk management.

The challenge therefore no longer lies solely in securing funding. It also lies in the ability to select relevant investments, assess their viability, build a credible financial framework and demonstrate to funders the expected economic, social or institutional value.

Funding methods are also diversifying. Public and private capital, project finance, public-private partnerships, impact investing, blended finance, climate finance and institutional investment vehicles all require new skills in analysis, structuring, negotiation and governance.

At the same time, executives and finance managers must improve the quality of their decision-making. Resource allocation, risk management, financial sustainability and the ability to report on performance are becoming central aspects of decision-making.

The main challenges are:

• Resource allocation: channelling limited resources towards investments and priorities that offer the best value in relation to the objectives pursued.
• Quality of investment decisions: assessing the relevance, viability, risks and prospects for value creation before committing any capital.
• Structuring of financing: designing financing arrangements tailored to the nature, risk profile and requirements of projects or organisations.
• Bankability and financial credibility: preparing projects and proposals capable of meeting the expectations of banks, investors and financial partners.
• Mobilisation and diversification of resources: broadening sources of funding and reducing dependence on a limited number of donors or instruments.
• Investment governance: professionalising the processes of analysis, decision-making, supervision and accountability within decision-making bodies.
• Financial risk management: identifying, assessing and monitoring risks likely to affect the viability, performance or sustainability of investments.
• Financial negotiation: managing financing terms, guarantees, commitments and risk-sharing in complex transactions.
• Sustainability and value creation: reconciling financial performance, institutional objectives, impact and long-term financing capacity.

The key challenge is therefore to produce professionals who are not only able to understand finance, but also to use it as a genuine tool for decision-making, investment and development.

The Area of Excellence ‘Finance, Investment and Resource Mobilisation’ covers the main mechanisms for channelling resources, structuring funding and governing investment decisions.

• Financial governance and performance management: oversight of financial balances, resource allocation, performance monitoring and the alignment of financial decisions with the organisation’s strategic direction.
• Resource allocation and investment decision-making: prioritising resources amongst competing projects, programmes and investments based on their value, risks and expected outcomes.
• Investment decisions and due diligence: assessing the relevance, viability, risks and financial, operational and institutional aspects prior to commitment.
• Structuring and financing of major projects: designing the financial architecture of complex projects and mobilising appropriate financial instruments and sources of capital.
• Project finance and infrastructure financing: expertise in financing models based on cash flows, assets, contracts and project-specific risks.
• Public-private partnerships: structuring, negotiating and governing partnerships that balance the public interest, economic viability and a fair sharing of risks.
• Bankability of investment projects: preparing projects that are sufficiently structured, documented and credible to secure financing.
• Capital mobilisation and diversification of resources: developing strategies to mobilise various categories of financiers, investors and instruments.
• Development finance, impact investment and blended finance: balancing returns, development objectives, impact and the mobilisation of private capital.
• Climate finance and green finance: structuring and mobilising resources for climate investments, the energy transition and resilience.
• Governance of institutional funds, assets and portfolios: mandates, asset allocation, risk management, investment decision-making and performance measurement for funds and portfolios.
• Financial risks, restructuring and complex transactions: managing major risks, financial recovery and negotiating the terms, guarantees and commitments associated with financing.

These areas of expertise give the field a comprehensive scope, ranging from financial arbitrage to capital mobilisation and the sustainable governance of investments.

Programmes in this field build the capabilities required to analyse, make decisions on, finance and manage resources rigorously.

• Reading and interpreting financial information: understanding the data essential for management, investment and financing decisions.
• Allocating resources: prioritising objectives and channelling available resources towards investments most consistent with the objectives being pursued.
• Assessing an investment decision: evaluating the relevance, viability, risks, profitability and overall value of an investment before committing to it.
• Structuring financing: designing a financial framework tailored to the needs, cash flows, risks and capabilities of the project or organisation.
• Assessing a project’s bankability: identifying the conditions necessary to make a project credible and financeable in the eyes of banks and investors.
• Conducting due diligence: methodically examining the financial, operational, institutional and risk aspects of a project or investment.
• Mobilising and diversifying resources: identifying sources of funding, developing a fundraising strategy and building lasting relationships with funders.
• Negotiating complex financing arrangements: managing the financial terms, guarantees, commitments and risk-sharing between parties.
• Govern funds and investments: enhance the quality of decisions taken by committees, governance bodies and portfolio managers.
• Integrating impact, climate and development into financial decisions: aligning financial performance with development objectives, the transition to a low-carbon economy and the creation of sustainable value.
• Oversee financial risks: identify major risks, organise their monitoring and incorporate risk management into investment decisions.
• Leading a financial turnaround: diagnosing a situation of financial imbalance and devising responses to restore the organisation’s viability.

These skills enable participants to use finance as a tool for making informed judgements, ensuring sound decision-making and mobilising the resources necessary to achieve their organisation’s ambitions.

In this Area of Excellence, the IIRCF offers programmes covering financial decision-making, investment, structuring of financing and capital raising.

• Executive Certificate in Financial Strategy and Value Creation: linking financial decision-making, resource allocation and sustainable value creation.
• Executive Certificate in Financial Governance and Performance Management: strengthening oversight of resources, financial balances and major decisions.
• Executive Certificate in Strategic Resource Allocation and Investment Arbitrage: prioritising resources across competing programmes, projects and investments.
• Executive Certificate in Investment Decision-Making and Strategic Project Evaluation: assessing viability, risks, profitability and overall value before committing.
• Executive Certificate in Structuring and Financing Major Projects: build the financial architecture for complex projects and mobilise appropriate sources of capital.
• Executive Certificate in Project Finance and Infrastructure Financing: master financing mechanisms based on project-specific cash flows, contracts and risks.
• Executive Certificate in Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Financing: structuring and governing PPPs whilst balancing public interest, bankability and risk-sharing.
• Executive Certificate in Bankability and Structuring of Investment Projects: prepare a transaction that is robust enough to attract banks and investors.
• Executive Certificate in Capital Raising and Financing Strategies: develop a strategy for accessing a range of financiers and financial instruments.
• Executive Certificate in Development Finance and Impact Investment: balancing returns, economic development, social impact and development objectives.
• Executive Certificate in Blended Finance and Mobilising Private Capital for Development: using public or concessional resources to reduce risks and attract private capital.
• Executive Certificate in Climate Finance and Mobilising Green Finance: structuring and financing investments related to climate, the energy transition and resilience.
• Executive Certificate in Investment Fund and Strategic Fund Governance: strengthening funds’ mandates, asset allocation, risk control and performance measurement.
• Executive Certificate in Investment Governance and Investment Committee Decision-Making: professionalising the analysis, decision-making and accountability of investment bodies.
• Executive Certificate in Financial Intelligence and Strategic Decision-Making for Executives: enabling non-specialist managers to interpret the financial information required for major decisions.

This programme enables participants to approach finance from several levels of responsibility: understanding decision-making, structuring financing, mobilising resources, investment and capital governance.

The IIRCF supports organisations wishing to strengthen their financial governance, diversify their resources, professionalise their investment decisions or develop in-house financing capabilities.

• Assessment of financial and investment capabilities: analysis of decision-making, allocation, funding and risk management mechanisms to identify areas for improvement.
• Tailor-made financial governance programmes: capacity building for management teams, boards, committees and managers responsible for overseeing resources, performance and investments.
• Support for resource mobilisation strategy: structuring approaches to diversify funding tailored to the organisation’s needs and positioning.
• Strengthening project bankability and financial readiness: developing the capabilities required to present credible, well-structured projects that meet funders’ expectations.
• Training in project and infrastructure finance: tailored programmes for teams involved in project finance, PPPs and complex financial structures.
• Professionalisation of investment committees and functions: strengthening analysis, decision-making, risk oversight and accountability.
• Capital raising and investor relations: developing the skills required to prepare, negotiate and maintain sustainable financial relationships.
• Development finance, impact and climate: institutional programmes enabling the integration of blended finance, impact investing and climate finance mechanisms.
• Fund and portfolio governance: building capacity in relation to investment mandates, asset allocation, risk control and performance monitoring.
• Restructuring and financial recovery: developing analytical and intervention capabilities to address situations of financial instability requiring decisions to restore viability.

These solutions enable the IIRCF to work closely with organisations’ financial realities, strengthening both the skills of their teams and the quality of the mechanisms that guide resources and investments.