LocationsSDG Finance Academy 2024
March 19, 2024
Addis Ababa city landscape, Ethiopia
Event Details
April 15, 2024
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April 19, 2024
Addis Ababa
The SDG Finance Academy is UNDP's innovative platform for enhancing the capacity of both internal staff and external partners. Its primary goal is to ensure that everyone possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to comprehend, shape, and utilize sustainable finance instruments and policy reforms. The Academy does this through the Sustainable Finance Hubs 4+1 Sustainable Finance Offers which leverage and align finance as a catalyst for signature solutions, SDGs and to achieve and implement the Africa Flagships.
This upcoming Academy, to be held in Addis Ababa, marks the second training event for the Africa region, following the introductory session in Pretoria in 2022. During this training, UNDP trainers will also join forces with Convergence, our partner in developing blended finance approaches and encourage Country Office colleagues to share their own sustainable finance experiences and case studies.
The focus of this Academy will be the role of sustainable finance and SFH’s 4+1 Offers in enabling specific development outcomes to achieve UNDPs signature solutions while enhancing collaboration with governments and other partners. It will also connect to ongoing capacity building initiatives within the region. The thematic policy areas that will be emphasized include climate, poverty and inequality with a focus on inclusive growth, and energy, and will connect with other topics such as gender equality, crisis and resilience
This approach to skills development will support the region in working towards achieving the goals of UNDPs Renewed Strategic Promise in Africa, the ASFHs Africa Flagships, and Agenda 2063. By strengthening skills in sustainable finance, Country Offices will be able to leverage and align sustainable finance to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, expediting structural economic transformations for sustainable development, building resilience to shocks, and promoting sound governance, peace and security throughout the continent
Specific Learning Objectives:
- Participants will understand UNDP's approach to sustainable finance, including the 4+1 Offers, the USD1 trillion Moonshot and how to design a country level Moonshot, key terms, and concepts.
- Participants will understand the connection between sustainable finance and UNDP's signature solutions
- Participants will familiarize themselves with financial instruments and policies for addressing country-level development challenges
- Participants will be able to tailor sustainable finance solutions for discussions and pitches with private and public sector partners
- Participants will acquire the necessary language to engage partners and mobilize resources for sustainable finance efforts
Important travel information
SDG Finance Academy will be held at The Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 15-19, April 2024. More information on Radisson Blu on their website.
Participants traveling from outside Ethiopia should plan to arrive on April 14 and depart on 20 April, depending on the flight availability
Travel on official business to Ethiopia is subject to Visa. Visa for official trip can be obtained online through
https://www.evisa.gov.et by providing supporting documents obtained from the sponsoring organization justifying the
official travel. Ethiopian visas will be secured for all the participants and communicated to each participant accordingly.
You will need to show a valid visa before boarding your flight and upon entry to Ethiopia.
Before Travel
Health and Medical: Keep in mind that the high altitude (over 2300mts/7500ft ASL) and pollution (dust, SMOG) may affect your health and wellbeing. Depending on the altitude at you place of departure, you may experience altitude sickness (vertigo, headache, short breath, etc.) for a few days after your arrival. If you suffer from allergies or respiratory problems consult with your physician BEFORE travel.
Vaccination requirements: Travelers should ensure that they have a valid yellow fever immunization card as this may be requested on arrival. You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Discuss with your physician if you have a condition that requires medication. Bring enough medication to cover the duration of your stay as some medications may not be readily available locally.
All participants will be accommodated for 6 nights (depending on the departure date), at Radisson Blu where the Finance Academy will take place. Single occupancy rooms will be reserved for the participants for the following dates:
- Official check-in - 14 April 2024 at 14:00
- Official checkout - 20 April 2024 at 11 AM
All participants will be responsible to settle their hotel bills directly with the hotel prior to checking out of the hotel at the negotiated rate of $100 for a single occupancy Standard room including tax.
Radisson Blu operates a shuttle service between the airport and the hotel which participants are strongly encouraged to use upon arrival and when departing as terminals will not be paid in both cases, this is especially so for participants arriving at night for your own safety. You will be able to find the hotel staff after clearing through customs before exiting the terminal building, participants should lookout for Radisson Blu officials.
The Radisson Blu official will direct you to the shuttle parking area. You are advised not to leave the terminal building until you have been in contact with the hotel official as you might not be allowed back into the terminal building by the security officers once you come out. In case you miss the official in the terminal building ask for the hotel shuttle parking area and then ask for Radisson Blu shuttle, ensure the vehicle is clearly marked Radisson Blu before hoping on board.
Security and safety measures
- Request your security clearance using UNDSS TRIP, download the “Electronic Travel Advisory (e-TA)” to your mobile device and enable geolocation and notifications.
- You should have their Security Clearance approved through the Travel Request Information Processing (TRIP) System well before their departure. This can be obtained electronically via the UNDSS travel portal https://dss.un.org/, by filling in all required fields prior to departure.
- In addition, all are advised to familiarize themselves with specific Addis Ababa security arrangements/travel advisory that is provided when inserting the TRIP/security clearance.
- UNDSS has been informed of the mission and security briefing will be provided at Radisson Blu on 15th April 2024. 6
- Update your TRIP profile with your hotel and any hotel movements and report any security-related issues to UNDSS at +251-911508516 or +251-986894397.
You should be aware that consensual same sex activity, and activities such as campaigning for LGBTI rights or disseminating pro-LGBTI materials are illegal in Ethiopia and may be punishable and liable to 15 years of imprisonment on conviction or deportation.
Public displays of affection between persons of the same sex may result in harassment or violence, and members of the LGBTI community may be targeted, harassed, and/or charged with offenses related to their sexual and gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (or perceived sexual and gender identity, and gender expression).
You should also be aware that UN-GLOBE, the group that represents LGBTI-identified staff of the UN system has a website which can be used to contact its members. You are advised to exercise caution and take precautionary measures as appropriate to avoid being subjected to harassment, threats, or violence. Keep a low profile in public places and be sensitive to cultural diversity.
- Taking photographs of government installations, security forces, businesses or infrastructure is generally prohibited. (Be positively sure about your permission to take photos of any building or person BEFORE taking out your camera or mobile telephone!)
- Use your hotel safes to secure your valuables while out!
- Never leave anything behind in a parked vehicle. A car is not a safe place for your laptop and other valuables.
- When eating out, consider health risks from unusual food or a lack of hygiene. Avoid ice cubes and always use bottled water.
- Avoid deserted areas and narrow residential neighborhoods, day, and night.
- Avoid crowded places where pickpockets target unwary foreigners. Only carry the necessary money and valuables.
- Always organize a safe ride home at night; do not walk the streets during hours of darkness!
- Always Keep your vehicle windows closed and your car doors locked.
- Meeting venues should be well ventilated.
Currency and other information
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). The largest banknote denomination is 200 ETB. The exchange rate is around 56.532 ETB/1USD. For up-to-date exchange rates, please visit the National Bank of Ethiopia Website https://nbe.gov.et/exchange/transaction-exchange-rates/
Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. You are required to keep the currency declaration form, as this will be required by customs upon departure. Visitors will be able to change any excess Ethiopian Birr to foreign currency at the airport before departure. Exchange of foreign currency outside the regulated banks (Black Market) is a criminal offence, and personnel caught by police sting operation have been arrested and detained for several days.
The Government of Ethiopia restricts the amount of foreign currency that travelers may bring into and/or take out of Ethiopia.
The auditors will be provided with local post-paid SIM cards to facilitate any local calls they may have to make. Ethio-Telecom and Safaricom are the only mobile communications operators and internet providers in the country.
The mobile phone network coverage is available in Addis Ababa and Regional State capitals. Major roads are covered; however, many rural areas have poor cell phone and internet connectivity.
Local & international phone calls from the hotel will be the individual responsibility of the participants that must be paid by each guest.
Power Supply: Ethiopia operates two associated plug types; types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Ethiopia operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
In April, Addis Ababa generally has high temperatures and high rainfall. Throughout the daytime, temperatures often hover around 25°C. However, as the sun sets and evening approaches, there's a noticeable cool-down, with temperatures gently dropping to a more temperate 12°C.
Business casual
Addis Ababa is in the time zone GMT/UTC +3 hours.