Large-scale development, energy transition, mining, infrastructure, and climate adaptation projects are accelerating across the Global South. These pose complex risks to communities, Indigenous peoples, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. International frameworks—such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs), UNDRIP, IFC Performance Standards, and the World Bank’s Environmental & Social Framework (ESF)—now require companies, governments, and financiers to integrate rights-based environmental safeguards, due diligence, grievance systems, and inclusive stakeholder participation. This domain equips learners with the analytical, technical, and procedural skills necessary to assess, mitigate, and monitor human rights and environmental risks. It provides training in ESIA/ESMP, human rights impact assessments (HRIAs), Free, Prior & Informed Consent (FPIC), due diligence, risk categorization, resettlement action planning, field engagement, and compliance with safeguards used by MDBs, ESG investors, development finance institutions, and global value chains. Learners gain competency in designing safeguards systems, community benefit-sharing plans, Indigenous inclusion models, land and livelihood transition frameworks, and just transition governance.
- One-Week Certificate Courses
| Course Title | Duration | Mode | Key Learning Outcomes | Skills Gained | Assessment | Suggested Fee (INR/USD) | Industry Relevance |
| Introduction to Human Rights & Environmental Safeguards | 1 Week | Online | MDB safeguards, UNGPs fundamentals | Rights & safeguard literacy | MCQ | ₹2,000 / $25 | Gov + MDB |
| IFC Performance Standards: Foundations | 1 Week | Online | PS1–PS8 overview; E&S screening | Safeguard application | MCQ | ₹2,000 / $25 | Infra + Finance |
| ESIA Basics for Development Projects | 1 Week | Online | ESIA steps; scoping; baseline | ESIA interpretation | Assignment | ₹2,000 / $25 | Infra + Mining |
| Free, Prior & Informed Consent (FPIC) Essentials | 1 Week | Online | FPIC protocols; Indigenous inclusion | Stakeholder engagement | Task | ₹2,000 / $25 | Gov + CSR |
| Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) | 1 Week | Online | GRM design; M&E; case models | Dispute process design | MCQ | ₹2,000 / $25 | Energy + Dev |
- Two-Week Certificate Courses
| Course Title | Duration | Mode | Key Learning Outcomes | Skills Gained | Assessment | Suggested Fee (INR/USD) | Industry Relevance |
| World Bank ESF Implementation | 2 Weeks | Online | ESF ESS1–ESS10 application | Policy alignment | Case Study | ₹3,500 / $40 | Gov + MDB |
| Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) | 2 Weeks | Online | HRIA steps; community risks | HRIA practice | Project | ₹3,500 / $40 | ESG + Industry |
| Indigenous Peoples Planning (IPP) | 2 Weeks | Online | UNDRIP; inclusion; FPIC | IPP planning | Assignment | ₹3,500 / $40 | Mining + Energy |
| Land Acquisition & Resettlement (LAR) | 2 Weeks | Online | RAP design; livelihood transitions | Resettlement skills | Case Study | ₹3,500 / $40 | Infra + Planning |
| Labour, Gender & Vulnerable Groups Safeguards | 2 Weeks | Online | GBV, labour standards; inclusion | Social safeguards | Assignment | ₹3,500 / $40 | CSR + Gov |
- One-Month Certificate Courses
| Course Title | Duration | Mode | Key Learning Outcomes | Skills Gained | Assessment | Suggested Fee (INR/USD) | Industry Relevance |
| Integrated ESIA & ESMP Implementation | 1 Month | Online | ESMP design; monitoring tools | Social–environment mgmt | Capstone | ₹6,000 / $70 | Infra + Energy |
| Corporate Human Rights Due Diligence | 1 Month | Online | OECD DD; supply chains | Risk screening | Project | ₹6,000 / $70 | ESG + Industry |
| Just Energy Transition & Community Safeguards | 1 Month | Online | Coal transition impacts; equity | Just transition policy | Project | ₹6,000 / $70 | Energy + Gov |
| Cultural Heritage & Environmental Safeguards | 1 Month | Online | UNESCO frameworks; mitigation | Heritage planning | Assignment | ₹6,000 / $70 | Infra + Tourism |
| Climate & Biodiversity Safeguards in Infrastructure | 1 Month | Online | Nature-positive development | ESS + BMP design | Capstone | ₹6,000 / $70 | Infra + Nature |
- Three-Month Certificate Courses
| Course Title | Duration | Mode | Key Learning Outcomes | Skills Gained | Assessment | Suggested Fee (INR/USD) | Industry Relevance |
| Advanced Human Rights & Environmental Safeguards | 3 Months | Online | UNGPs; IFC PS; ESF integration | Advanced DD | Capstone + Exam | ₹12,000 / $140 | MDB + Energy |
| Safeguards for Extractives & Critical Minerals | 3 Months | Online | Mining safeguards; rehabilitation | Site safeguards | Project | ₹12,000 / $140 | Mining + ESG |
| Community Development & Benefit-Sharing | 3 Months | Online | Livelihood models; revenue sharing | CBIP design | Capstone | ₹12,000 / $140 | CSR + Gov |
| Advanced Land Resettlement & Livelihood Restoration | 3 Months | Online | RAP/LRP planning; compensation | Resettlement mgmt | Project | ₹12,000 / $140 | Gov + Infra |
| Safeguards Monitoring, Reporting & Data Systems | 3 Months | Online | ESG data; M&E; dashboards | Tracking + disclosure | Capstone | ₹12,000 / $140 | ESG + MDB |
- Six-Month Diploma Courses
| Course Title | Duration | Mode | Key Learning Outcomes | Skills Gained | Assessment | Suggested Fee (INR/USD) | Industry Relevance |
| Diploma in Human Rights & Environmental Safeguards | 6 Months | Online | IFC/ESF; HRIA; FPIC; GRM | Advanced E&S systems | Dissertation + Capstone | ₹25,000 / $300 | MDB + Infra |
| Diploma in ESIA, ESMP & Monitoring Systems | 6 Months | Online | ESIA–ESMP; monitoring; M&E | Full safeguards cycle | Thesis | ₹25,000 / $300 | Gov + Industry |
| Diploma in Just Transition & Social Performance | 6 Months | Online | Equity; coal exit; livelihood planning | Social inclusion | Capstone | ₹25,000 / $300 | Energy + CSR |
| Diploma in Indigenous Peoples Governance & FPIC | 6 Months | Online | FPIC; IPP; co-management | Specialist IP engagement | Project | ₹25,000 / $300 | Mining + Infra |
| Diploma in Corporate Human Rights & ESG Due Diligence | 6 Months | Online | Supply-chain DD; grievance; disclosure | ESG + HRDD | Dissertation | ₹25,000 / $300 | ESG + MNC |
Common Features Across All Courses
- Self-paced modules
- Ideal for: graduates, policymakers, researchers, planners, professionals, NGOs, and development practitioners
- Alignment with IFC PS, WB ESF, UNGPs, UNDRIP, OECD Due Diligence tools
- Practical casework covering mining, renewable energy, transport, and urban planning
- Risk screening + mitigation frameworks
- Stakeholder engagement, FPIC, and grievance redress
- Social impact + Indigenous People Plans (IPP)
- Land acquisition + livelihood restoration planning tools
- Strong application to national + MDB investment operations
- Capstone / applied project
- STRATI certification + progression pathway