NBI Academy

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify nature-based infrastructure (NBI) and its opportunities for climate adaptation and sustainable development.
• Make the case for NBI by explaining its potential economic, environmental, and social benefits.
• Understand the risk profile and the climate resilience benefits of NBI compared to grey infrastructure.
• Explain the basics of systems thinking, quantitative models, spatial analysis, climate data and financial modelling applied to NBI.
• Appreciate the results of integrated cost-benefit analyses for NBI.
• Use case studies of NBI projects from across the world as context for their work.

This course was developed by the NBI Global Resource Centre to help policy-makers, infrastructure planners, researchers and investors understand, assess, and value nature-based infrastructure. The course familiarizes participants with several tools and modelling approaches for NBI, including Excel-based models, system dynamics, spatial analysis and financial modelling. In addition, the training presents a variety of NBI case studies from across the world.

Participants also learn to identify the risks and opportunities of nature-based infrastructure, in particular in comparison with “built” or “grey” infrastructure. With this knowledge, we hope that policy-makers, infrastructure planners, and investors will be better equipped to make informed decisions about infrastructure investments and utilizing NBI for climate adaptation and mitigation.

This course will help you gain valuable skills and insights which will enable you to:

• Gain knowledge and tools for informed infrastructure decision-making, with a focus on advancing nature-based solutions for climate adaptation at a systems level.
• Understand and measure the benefits, risks, and trade-offs of nature-based infrastructure.
• Understand the importance of systemic thinking for infrastructure planning, implementation, and financing strategies.
• Communicate persuasively and effectively with stakeholders to advocate for nature-based infrastructure.
• Collaborate with peers around the world and become part of the NBI Global Resource Centre alumni.

Over 4000 participants from about 180 countries have taken the course. 98% of participants were satisfied with last year’s live program, reporting that the training increased their capacity to understand, appreciate and value NBI projects and their co-benefits. Here’s what some of our past participants had to say:

This course is invaluable to anyone working with natural resources and projects relating to environmental management and conservation. It was an eye-opener for me as a local government official to see how nature can be valued and how we have a role to play in changing the status quo. I would recommend this course to all local, provincial and national government officials, no matter their position or field of work.

– Margaou Marthinussen, Environmental Officer at Drakenstein Municipality, South Africa

 

This has been the best course in relation to NBI that I’ve done until now. The combination of remote classes and written material is very good, and the presenters have been excellent. It also covers a great range of things related to NBI.

– Iñigo Ruiz-Apilanez, Associate at Arup

 

Senior leadership and engineering professionals could benefit greatly by attending this course and learning more about what is possible in achieving positive outcomes through the implementation of NBI projects.

– Adam Schellhammer, Executive Director for Valley Conservation Council, United States

 

The NBI Academy showed me how integrating natural solutions can create a resilient, cost-effective infrastructure that not only supports communities but also restores and protects our ecosystems for future generations.

– Bewuketu Abebe, Water Resource Development Expert at the Abbay Basin Administration Office, Ethiopia