ESG Integration for Sustainable Retirement Outcomes

As Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations become increasingly important within the retirement fund industry, trustees must understand how ESG factors impact investment decisions, fiduciary responsibilities, governance practices, and long-term member outcomes. ICTS Academy's ESG Integration for Sustainable Retirement Outcomes programme provides trustees, principal officers, and employee benefit consultants with a practical South African perspective on ESG integration, aligned to Regulation 28, FSCA.

Key concepts

The course is designed to train you to:

Gain a practical understanding of ESG principles and their relevance to retirement fund governance and investment decision-making.
Strengthen your ability to fulfil fiduciary duties and meet regulatory requirements under Regulation 28, CRISA 2 and King V.
Learn how to identify, assess and manage ESG-related risks and opportunities that may impact long-term fund performance.
Enhance your oversight of investment managers, stewardship activities and responsible investment practices.
Build the knowledge and confidence needed to support sustainable retirement outcomes and improve governance effectiveness.

Click to download brochure here.

Syllabus

The course consists of 7 modules and will take approximately 3 hours of learning time to complete, including assessments and exercises.

Modules 1 - 7

Module 1 - Foundations of ESG, Fiduciary Duty & the Regulatory Imperative ·

What is ESG?
Why ESG matters for retirement funds – The Fiduciary Case
The South African Regulatory Imperative
Course Structure and how to use this training

Module 2 - The South African Regulatory & Governance Landscape

The legal foundation: Pension Funds Act & Regula on 28
FSCA Guidance No ce 1 of 2019
CRISA 2 – Code for Responsible Investment in South Africa (2022)
King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa (2016)
B-BBEE integra on within ESG Frameworks
Recommended Governance Structures for ESG Oversight

Module 3 - ESG Investing Strategies – Positive and Negative Screening

Introduction to ESG Investment Approaches
Negative Screening (Exclusionary Approach)
Positive Screening (Inclusionary / Best-in-Class)
Positive vs Negative Screening: Comparison
What is Greenwashing?

Module 4 - The Environmental (E) Pillar – Importance, Risk & Investment Themes

Why the Environmental Pilar Matters for South Africa Retirement Funds
Key Individual Risks & Opportunities · Major Environmental Investment Themes for SA Funds
How Trustees should approach the E Pillar

Module 5 - The Social Pillar (S) Pillar – Inequality, Transformation & Key Themes

Why the Social Pillar Matters for South African Retirement Funds
Key Social Risks and Opportunities in South Africa
Major Social Investment Themes for SA Retirement Funds
How Trustees should Approach the Social Pillar
Financial inclusion
Affordable housing and community development
Module 6 - The Governance (G) Pillar – King IV Deep Dive & Stewardship
King IV and the Governance Foundation for ESG in South Africa Retirement Funds
King IV Principle 17 – Responsibilities of Institutional Investors
Board Effectiveness under King IV · Stewardship and Active Ownership (CRISA 2 Principle 2)
How Trustees should Approach the G Pillar
Governance risk management

Module 7 - ESG Integration, Stewardship, Measurement, Reporting & Greenwashing Mitigation

ESG Integration into the Investment Process
Stewardship and Active Ownership in Practice
Measurement: Frameworks, KPIs and Impact
Transparent Reporting and Disclosure
Greenwashing Mitigation Strategies

What you earn

Fund Bookings

Course fees

All costs are per learner and exclusive of VAT. Bulk discounts are available for groups of 5 or more.

Participating in this course provides retirement fund trustees and industry professionals with a practical understanding of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and their impact on long-term investment outcomes.