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04 March 2026

United Nations and Oxford University Launch New Programme for Leadership in the Green Economy

Learn more about the course
Vadim Sherbakov's picture of University of Oxford campus.

The executive training programme, Future-proofing Business and the Economy is designed to equip senior leaders with the insights, tools, and confidence to navigate accelerating global change and the green transition.

Delivered through a unique collaboration between five United Nations agencies and the world’s top-ranked university, the programme brings together global policy expertise, cutting-edge academic research, and real-world leadership practice. 

It responds to an urgent need: as governments, businesses, and financial institutions confront political, social, economic, technological and climate disruptions, leaders must take decisions in an environment of growing uncertainty. The course focuses on how economies and organizations can remain competitive, resilient and inclusive.

The course equips participants with insights on policy trends and signals from the UN team, combined with the latest research from leading Oxford academics and practical tools for strategic planning and futureproofing. 

The programme is jointly delivered by the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) – an alliance of UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Development Programme (UNDP), International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – and the University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, internationally recognized for its transformative executive education.

Together, they offer an exceptional learning experience at the intersection of global policy, economics, and sustainability.

A World-class Learning Experience in Oxford

The programme combines self-paced online learning with an intensive three-day, face-to-face training in Oxford, providing participants with exclusive access to world-renowned Oxford faculty, UN experts, and an international peer group of senior leaders. 

Through expert lectures, panel sessions and interactive workshops, participants will investigate the key forces reshaping the economy, including environmental risks, geopolitical uncertainty, technological change, labour market transformation, inequality and natural capital depletion – and explore how these forces interact. 

The cohort will also undertake a leadership challenge, applying what they have learned to develop a practical action plan tailored to their context. 

Key themes include:

  • Global economic, technological, and environmental trends and drivers of change
  • Futureproofing and strategic decision-making under uncertainty
  • Leadership and organisational transformation for sustainability

Learning is highly interactive and practice-oriented, enabling participants to directly apply insights to their own institutional and national contexts. 

Upon completion of the programme, participants will be awarded an official certificate issued by Oxford University and UN PAGE.

Register your interest

Who Should Apply?

The programme is designed for senior leaders from the public and private sectors, including:

  • Executives responsible for strategy, sustainability, and risk management
  • Senior government officials from finance, economy, planning, labour, and environment ministries
  • Leaders from financial institutions and central banks
  • Representatives of employers’ and workers’ organisations, civil society, and development institutions 

A Global Network of Changemakers

Participants will join a UN–Oxford alumni community, connecting them with like-minded leaders from around the world committed to evidence-based, forward-looking decision-making. The alumni network provides ongoing opportunities for collaboration and learning after the programme concludes.

Fellowships

Up to ten (10) Fellowships will be offered for eligible public sector officials and representatives workers’ and employers’ organisations from low- to upper-middle-income countries to participate in the programme. 

The Fellowships cover the full programme fee plus accommodation for the duration of the 3-day residential training in Oxford. A small number of applicants from least developed countries may also be eligible for travel support to and from the training.

To apply for a Fellowship, applicants are required to complete an online application form and submit a short motivation statement, a letter of support from their organisation, and their full CV. 

Individuals working in the private sector, for the United Nations system or other international organisations are not eligible for fellowship support, regardless of nationality.

The Fellowships are supported by the generous contributions of the PAGE funding partners, whose support, financial, and in-kind contributions are integral to enabling countries to transform their economies into drivers of sustainability.

Funding partners

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