The Fellowship
An immersive leadership development programme supporting finance professionals to advance and embed climate action within their institutions.
Applications for Cohort 5 close 3 March 2025
The programme
Fellows cultivate the leadership skills, knowledge and networks that can bring about the deep shifts that will align their institutions with a just and credible transition to a climate safe world.
Many other forums focus on the technical aspects of how banks can finance this transition. The Fellowship looks beneath the analytical work required, and asks: “What are the underlying systemic dynamics (structures, relationships, mindsets and values) within banks that inhibit and accelerate progress toward climate goals?”
The Fellowship programme guides participants through the different levels of transformation crucial to the work of a climate leader. Fellows meet virtually and engage in workshops, peer coaching and other network-building activities and access individual support. Fellows are asked to commit up to two days per month for Fellowship activities.
Who is it for?
We will appoint a cohort of courageous banking professionals who are working to catalyse a credible and just climate transition in their institution.
The 2025 Fellowship cohorts are open to applicants worldwide who:
Work in financial institutions that provide primary investments into the real economy (e.g. banks, lending institutions, venture capital, CDFIs, etc.)*
Are actively working to progress the climate agenda within their institution. We are looking for applicants from a diverse range of roles and functions, both within sustainability teams, back office functions and in core business areas.
Have a minimum of three years experience in financial institutions and the potential to influence key internal stakeholders at the time of programme start. Applicants with less than 3 years of experience can apply if they are able to demonstrate their potential for impacts.
*CSLN works to make sure applicants do not have any conflicts of interest that would jeopardise the value, safety, or confidentiality of its members. We welcome applicants from institutions regardless of size, or the stage of its journey towards a credible and just climate transition. If you have questions about the eligibility of your institution, please email us.
What Fellows Gain
The Fellowship is designed to engage, inspire and propel climate intrapreneurs forward in their efforts to advance the climate agenda within their institution. By joining the Fellowship, you can expect to gain:
Leadership skills and insights
You will develop leadership and interpersonal skills to make and influence transformational change to align your organisation with a just transition to net zero. You will also learn and hear from other inspiring leaders doing this work, and reflect on ways to become more effective as you build engagement and momentum in your bank’s climate journey.
Practical tools for action
You will learn new tools and systems change approaches, and be able to immediately apply them to making tangible progress on your climate action goals. Outside of sessions, you’ll be encouraged to take practical and courageous action, learning from each step to inform the next and leaving the Fellowship with a clear plan and greater confidence in how you take this work forward.
Peer learning and community
You will engage in peer coaching and benefit from the collective wisdom of the cohort, becoming part of a supportive network of climate champions across banking. You will also have the opportunity to strengthen your cross-sector network, engaging with external values-aligned stakeholders and members of the wider Climate Safe Lending Network community.
Upon completion of the Fellowship, participants are granted the title of Climate Safe Lending Fellow. Fellows join a rich and connected alumni community and become members of the Climate Safe Lending Network - gaining direct access to our cross-sector community of stakeholders all working to accelerate bank climate action.
Testimonials and Impact
“Rarely a day goes by where I don’t think about something that I learned on the Fellowship”
CSL Fellow 2022
Hannah Subayi Kamuanga, 2024 Fellow, discusses her experience on the Fellowship
“The Climate Safe Lending Fellowship programme is a deeply transformative, engaging and impactful undertaking for global sustainable finance leaders. It is a safe platform to probe, reflect and contribute ideas on progressing the ‘just transition’ dialogue. Highly recommended.”
CSL Fellow 2022
James Vaccaro, Chief Catalyst at the Climate Safe Lending Network, shares his vision for the Fellowship
Scott Beckerman, 2022 Fellow, shares his experience of the Fellowship
"The Fellowship provided me with additional tools to be successful in my current role as a sustainability professional, including those to help with communicating systems change, supporting the transition strategy and determining the best way to influence those in power.”
CSL Fellow 2023
“The CSL Fellowship will give you new insights and perspectives you didn't know you didn't know! I found the peer coaching techniques and sessions really liberating - my peers that helped me pause and realise a lot of the answers I’ve been looking for are already within.”
CSL Fellow 2024
Return on investment for banks
Banks gain considerable benefit from sponsoring employees to become Climate Safe Lending Fellows.
Effective leaders
The Fellowship will enhance the motivation, commitment and effectiveness of bank employees, equipping them with the knowledge, networks and leadership skills to accelerate their bank's progress toward net zero and beyond.
Bank transformation
The Fellowship focuses on more than the technical components of climate finance. Fellows will gain skills and insights to support their bank's organisational transformation, capability-building and culture change for the climate transition.
Best practice insights
Fellows will bring back intelligence on climate finance approaches that are gaining traction in peer institutions - as well as those that aren’t. This can shortcut innovation and de-risk their bank’s climate approach and open up competitive advantage from becoming a market leader.
Stakeholder network
The Fellowship is a programme of the Climate Safe Lending Network. Banks will gain access to our collective network of influential bank stakeholders who they can leverage and collaborate with to develop and deliver climate strategies.
Application Process
Stage 1: Online written application
Eligible applicants will be shortlisted based on:
Courage, commitment and demonstrated action We are looking for individuals who are committed to influencing a credible and just transition to a safer climate from within their institutions
Potential for systemic impact We want to support individuals who show the potential to influence meaningful shifts in core business strategy, operational structures, relationships and culture.
Appetite to learn and grow We seek individuals who are eager to adapt and change, stretch into new areas of growth, and actively support the development of others in a peer learning community
Stage 2: Group Workshop
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a live two-hour online Group Session to experience the peer learning culture of the Fellowship and for us to mutually gauge interest and fit. The session will also support applicants to clarify and refine the challenge they would like to bring to the programme.
Places on the Fellowship will be confirmed following successful completion of the Group Workshop.
Online Applications close
25 November 2024 9 December 2024
Monday
Group Workshop
21 March 2025
Friday from 9.00-11.00hrs GMT. Invite-only for shortlisted applicants.
Key dates
See full application timeline and programme dates here.
Experience Sessions
Our virtual experience sessions are designed to bring together those in the CSL community working within banks and financial institutions. These sessions will give prospective candidates a better understanding of the Network and the Fellowship programme. Sessions are open to anyone working within any financial institution that provides primary investments into the real economy (e.g. banks, lending institutions, venture capital, CDFIs, etc.), including prospective candidates, Fellowship alumni, or anyone in need of some inspiration for the climate challenge. Sessions are strictly conducted under the Chatham House Rules.
Experience sessions will follow similar formats, please join whichever fits your schedule. Attendance or lack thereof will have no effect on application status.
Reach out to connect@climatesafelending.org with any questions.
Online Applications close
3 March 2025
Monday
Thursday
23 January 2025
10.00-11.00 GMT
Cohort 4
Sessions will take place midday UK time, and are designed to accommodate Eastern United States, Europe, Africa and Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Group Workshop
13 December 2024
Friday from 14.00-16.00hrs GMT. Invite-only for shortlisted applicants.
Fellowship places confirmed
week of
16 December 2024
Fellowship places confirmed
week of
31 March 2025
Friday
21 February 2025
7.30-8.30 GMT
Onboarding Session
31 January 2025
Friday from
15.00-16.00hrs GMT
Programme Start
13 February 2025
End
9 May 2025
Cohort 5
Sessions will take place morning UK time, and are designed to accommodate Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Africa and Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Onboarding Session
2 May 2025 2025
Friday from
10.00-11.00hrs GMT
Programme Start
15 May 2025
End
25 July 2025
Need more information?
Access further resources
Join an Experience Session
Our virtual experience sessions are designed for you to meet the team and get a feel for what the Fellowship will be like.
Get in touch
To discuss questions about the Fellowship or access support with your application, please get in touch with us.