As a landmark move toward advancing sustainable banking practices in Nepal, Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) successfully hosted on 15 May 2025 its first-of-its-kind Sustainable Finance Masterclass exclusively designed for Board Members of member banks. The session marks a new chapter in strengthening ESG principles at the highest level of banking leadership. It was organized at a crucial juncture, as both global and national attention, and the regulatory requirement on sustainable finance practices is intensifying. Delivering the welcome remarks, NBA President Mr. Santosh Koirala highlighted the importance of aligning the banking sector with national and regulatory priorities on sustainable finance.
He emphasized NBA’s proactive efforts to build industry capacity on sustainable finance focused programs. Mr. Koirala further underscored the critical role of board-level leadership in driving the financial sector toward sustainable finance practices. The Masterclass was enriched by the insights of two distinguished Professors from the UPF, Barcelona School of Management. The session on Managing Social Risk in Sustainable Finance was delivered by Prof. Dr. Andrei Boar, Head of Business Strategy and Management Department at BSM.
He shed light on the social dimension of ESG, emphasizing the importance of identifying and managing social risks in banking operations, particularly in lending practices. He also discussed about the different frameworks that banks can adopt to identify and mitigate these risks. Another key session on Governance and Sustainable Finance was led by Prof. Dr. Marcos Eguiguren Huerta, Associate Provost and Secretary General at BSM.
Dr. Eguiguren emphasized governance as a critical pillar for building an ethically responsible and sustainable financial sector. He underlined the need for strong leadership, transparent decisionmaking and accountability frameworks within banks for its sustainability. He stressed that robust governance is fundamental not only for regulatory compliance but also for long-term business sustainability and stakeholder trust. The program was graced by the presence of over 45 participants, including Chairmen of the Board, Board Members and CEOs from member banks.
