The Canadian Sustainable Finance Network (CSFN) is instrumental in sharing knowledge and opening the door to future research topics, as well as creating key partnerships across Canada and internationally. This year’s inaugural CSFN Research Grant, with an award of $50,000, was intended for proposals with a focus on three themes, developed in consultation with ISF’s Research Advisory Council: 

  • Sustainable finance products used in other jurisdictions: banking, institutional and retail. 
  • Financing versus funding for sustainable agriculture. 
  • Cleantech financing frameworks and structures. 

We are pleased to announce the recipient of ISF’s inaugural CSFN Research grant is Diane-Laure Arjaliès. 

Diane-Laure Arjaliès, Associate Professor, Managerial Accounting and Control, General Management & Sustainability, Ivey Business School, Western University. 

Dr. Arjaliès and her colleagues have been awarded the grant for their proposed project on “The Opportunity for Conservation Impact Bonds to Finance Natural Infrastructure and Regenerative Agriculture on Canadian Farmland”. As Dr. Arjaliès writes, “sustainable farming systems are more productive in the long term, require less costly inputs, are more harmonious with local ecosystems, and can be a sink rather than a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The possibility of a system that generates multiple environmental, societal, and economic benefits creates opportunities for using new financial instruments to organize and convene farmers, investors, and other stakeholders.” This project “will support and inform the development of a new pilot applying the Conservation Impact Bond (CIB) model to scale investment in sustainable agriculture.” 

Call for CSFN Research Proposals

The Institute for Sustainable Finance (ISF) is calling for research proposal submissions for one research grant to provide funding for a project related to one of the following topics:

  1. Sustainable finance products used in other jurisdictions: banking, institutional and retail.
  2. Financing versus funding for sustainable agriculture.
  3. Cleantech financing frameworks and structures.

Proposals related to other relevant research topics related to sustainable finance will also be considered.

Research Grant Details:

  1. Grants will be made available only for proposals that include at least one Canadian Sustainable Finance Network (CSFN) member.
  2. Grant amount - $20,000-$50,000.
  3. Project duration: 12 to 18 months.
  4. The project should be new research, or research in early stages.
  5. The winning proposal will be determined based largely on the quality of the proposal, including the research record of the research team. Budget details will also be considered.

Proposals should be a maximum of 5 pages (12 point font and single-spaced), including the budget. The proposals will include a description of:

  1. Objectives for the project.
  2. Description of the research team and project roles.
  3. Theoretical and empirical motivation for the project.
  4. Description of data and methodology to be employed.
  5. Detailed budget (maximum one page).

Please submit research proposals and up to date CVs for each project team member to azel.mulagulova@queensu.ca no later than May 31, 2023. Submission date is subject to change and submissions are limited to CSFN members only. Please contact Azel Mulagulova if you have any questions. Applicants will be notified directly by email about funding decisions.