CSR ESG Institute

What CSR ESG Institute does

CSR ESG Institute is a boutique ESG training and advisory firm founded in 2013 by Professor Wayne Dunn, registered in Duncan, British Columbia, with primary operations in Accra, Ghana. The company delivers a curriculum of four internationally accredited Master Class programs — 4-day ESG Finance, 3-day ESG Reporting, 2-day ESG & SDGs, and 1-day ESG for Boards — alongside bespoke training, keynotes, board briefings, and advisory services spanning ESG strategy and policy development, ESG communications, ESG SWOT analysis, and ESG/SDG impact reports. The institute also operates a Knowledge Centre that distributes digital content. Its stated reach extends to 127 organizations across 43 countries, with 1,000+ individuals trained and 50+ events delivered in 19 countries.

The company's customer base spans mining, banking, energy, government, and NGO segments, with disclosed institutional relationships including the United Nations, McGill University, Asante Gold Corporation, and Baraka Shea Butter. The Ghana office launched in 2023, marking a geographic pivot toward emerging-market delivery, and the firm holds QAHE international accreditation for its training programs. Recent product extensions include crisis simulation exercises, suggesting a move from purely didactic training toward experiential, higher-value engagements.

The business model is professional services-based: revenue is generated through fee-for-service training programs, bespoke advisory engagements, keynotes, and board briefings rather than through subscriptions, licensing, or software. The organization operates with a small team of approximately 5 employees, indicating a high-leverage, founder-led model where institutional partnerships and the founder's professional network are the primary demand-generation channels. Pricing signals suggest project-based contracts with modest average deal sizes, consistent with a diversified client base of 127 organizations across multiple verticals and geographies.

Name

CSR ESG Institute

Legal name

CSR Training Institute

Website

https://csrtraininginstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CSR ESG Institute, founded in 2013 by Professor Wayne Dunn, delivers internationally accredited ESG training programs and advisory services to enterprises, government entities, and NGOs across emerging markets, with primary operations in Accra, Ghana, and reach spanning 43 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability & ESG Training and Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Sustainability, Energy & Environmental (ESG/LEED) Certifications (EDAAANAO), ESG Strategy & Materiality Assessment (EUAHAJAA), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• ESG training programs
• Sustainability consulting services
• Executive ESG education
• ESG strategy advisory
• Sustainable finance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Certified Training Programs: Revenue from internationally accredited masterclasses including ESG & Sustainable Finance (4-day), ESG & the SDGs (2-day), ESG Reporting and Strategy (3-day), and ESG Awareness for Boards (1-day). Programs include certificate credentials accredited by QAHE.
2. Bespoke Corporate Training: Customized training programs tailored to specific organizational needs delivered on client schedule. Programs include ESG Awareness, Strategy, Financing, Reporting, Metrics, and Strategic Overview modules.
3. Keynote Presentations: Fee-based keynote speeches by Professor Wayne Dunn at corporate events and conferences worldwide. Based on three decades of global experience in sustainability and social responsibility.
4. Board & Executive Briefings: Customized executive-level sessions for board members and executives covering ESG landscape navigation, value-creation opportunities, and risk mitigation strategies.
5. ESG Strategy & Policy Consulting: Advisory services helping organizations develop value-centric and implementable ESG and sustainability strategies and policy statements aligned with business objectives.
6. ESG Reporting Services: ESG/SDG impact report development for organizations seeking international capital access and regulatory compliance. Reports meet international standards with local regulatory requirements.
7. ESG Communications Consulting: Communication strategy development for ESG and sustainability investments, helping businesses develop effective internal and external stakeholder communications.
8. ESG SWOT Analysis: Strategic analysis services helping organizations identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to ESG and sustainability for competitive advantage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CSR ESG Institute is a globally recognized advisory and capacity-building organization that delivers internationally accredited ESG and sustainability masterclass programs (4-day, 3-day, 2-day, and 1-day formats) for senior executives, board members, and sustainability professionals. It complements these training programs with consulting and advisory services covering ESG strategy and policy development, ESG/SDG impact reporting, ESG communications, ESG SWOT analysis, board and executive briefings, and bespoke corporate training and coaching. The Institute also publishes a free Knowledge Centre of articles, video lectures, and research reports, and operates under international QAHE accreditation for its certificates.

Product overview

CSR ESG Institute is a globally recognized advisory and capacity-building organization offering a portfolio of training programs and consulting services focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability. The core offerings include four internationally accredited Master Class training programs: ESG & Sustainable Finance (4-day), ESG Reporting and Strategy (3-day), ESG & the SDGs: Integration and Alignment (2-day), and ESG Awareness & Strategy for Boards and Executives (1-day). These are complemented by consulting services including Bespoke Training & Coaching, Board & Executive Briefings, ESG Strategy & Policy Development, ESG Communications, ESG SWOT Analysis, and ESG/SDG Impact Reports. The Institute also provides free resources through its Knowledge Centre, which includes an extensive reports library, video lectures (ESG De-Mystified Lectures), and an articles journal (ESG De-Mystified Journal). The flagship faculty member is Professor Wayne Dunn, who leads all training programs and authored the Institute's research reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESG & Sustainable Finance Master Class

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations with strong ESG integration achieve 0.25-0.75% reductions in financing costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for program development and delivery. UN agencies including SDGs Advisory Unit and UNEP collaborate with the institute for ESG and sustainability education initiatives.
• McGill UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for ESG education. Professor Wayne Dunn served as Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University, contributing to academic rigor and research.
• World Free ZonesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with World Free Zones Organization for developing and delivering sustainability programs for free trade zones globally.
• National & Multi-National Chambers of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with national and multi-national chambers of commerce across various countries for delivering ESG training and programs to member organizations.
• Innovation ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Innovation Forum for sustainability events and awards programs spanning Africa, Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
• Canadian University DubaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for delivering ESG education programs in the Middle East region.
• Global Affairs CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational accreditation and program support through Canada's foreign affairs ministry for global ESG education initiatives.
• ION AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ION Africa for program delivery and regional expansion in African markets.
• Baraka Shea ButtermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaraka Shea Butter, an international business founded by Professor Wayne Dunn, serves as a practical reference case for ESG implementation. Their ESG Impact Report is shared as a practical example of how environmental, social, and governance considerations are integrated within a real operating business.
• Asante Gold CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and partner for ESG training programs. Asante Gold is a gold exploration and development company operating in Ghana.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Carbon Trust: International climate and sustainability consultancy advising corporates and governments on strategy, reporting and decarbonization. Comparable as a sustainability advisory and capacity-building provider, though focused more on carbon/climate than broad ESG training.
• IFC Sustainability Academy: World Bank/IFC's online ESG and climate-finance learning platform for bankers, regulators and corporates. Overlaps with the Institute's ESG & Sustainable Finance masterclass content and emerging-market audience, but is free and backed by IFC's institutional scale.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global sustainability advisory network helping corporates develop ESG strategy, reporting and stakeholder engagement. Comparable on the ESG strategy, policy and reporting consulting services the Institute offers, but at much larger scale and with a global full-time consultancy model.
• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL): University-based sustainability executive education provider offering programmes for boards and senior leaders on ESG strategy, climate and sustainable finance. Closest comparable in mission (senior-executive ESG education) though materially larger, UK-anchored and not focused on emerging markets.

Direct peers

• Sustainability Academy (by WWF/IFC): Online ESG and sustainable finance e-learning platform offering accredited courses to professionals in emerging markets. Most directly comparable peer on emerging-market ESG capacity-building with certified credentials and global reach.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management - UNEP Collaborating Centre: Delivers certified sustainable finance and ESG training programmes, including in partnership with UN agencies, across emerging markets (notably Africa). Directly comparable as a UN-affiliated, internationally accredited ESG/sustainable finance capacity-building provider.
• PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) Academy: UN-supported network of investors providing training, guidance and credentialing on responsible investment and ESG integration. Directly comparable as a UN-affiliated provider of accredited ESG/sustainable finance learning for finance professionals.
• GRI Academy: Training arm of the Global Reporting Initiative offering certified courses on sustainability reporting standards. Directly comparable on the ESG-reporting curriculum axis that the Institute's 3-day ESG Reporting and Strategy masterclass addresses.

Regional players

• African Leadership University (ALU) School of Business: Pan-African higher-education institution offering MBA and executive programmes with sustainability content, targeting emerging-market leaders. Comparable as an African-focused executive education provider, though broader than ESG-only and degree-oriented rather than short masterclasses.

Emerging players

• EDGE Strategy (by SASB/IFRS Foundation): Credentialing programme operated by the IFRS Foundation that certifies professionals on ISSB/IFRS S1 & S2 sustainability disclosure standards. Directly comparable as a certification pathway for ESG reporting professionals and a potential competitor/partner for the Institute's IFRS-aligned masterclasses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csrinstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLTuRPZJ__NN0fHcCKYFznIUiOzG-kleGD
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSRTrainingInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csr-esg-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/csrtraining

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSR ESG Institute