Practical Application of the PPPs and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS)
Course Overview
Synchronous, Online
Fall 2025
15 hours over 4 weeks (see schedule below)
This comprehensive training program is designed to enhance understanding and application of sustainable infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Learners will explore key concepts related to sustainable infrastructure and how to utilize the UNECEs Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS) methodology in addressing the infrastructure gap sustainably. The course covers a broad range of topics and focuses on fiscal sustainability, access and equity, stakeholder engagement, environmental responsibility, circularity, resilience, and replicability. Learners will engage in case studies and practical assessments to develop skills in applying the PIERS methodology to real-world projects. The course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to drive sustainable global infrastructure development.
What You’ll Learn
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Understand the fundamental principles related to sustainable infrastructure, the global infrastructure gap, and the imperatives of sustainability.
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Recognize the importance of mobilizing private investment, current trends in infrastructure and PPP financing, and the economic effectiveness and fiscal sustainability of projects.
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Assess strategies for effective stakeholder engagement, inclusiveness, and equity in infrastructure projects, considering affordability, accessibility, and social justice.
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Evaluate environmental sustainability and resilience factors in infrastructure projects, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, circularity, and biodiversity conservation.
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Formulate strategies for replicability, scalability, capacity-building, and technology transfer in sustainable infrastructure and PPP projects, and understand the role of third-party verification and certification.
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Apply the PIERS methodology in evaluating sustainability, resilience, and people-centric aspects of infrastructure projects.
What People Are Saying
“The PIERS training course is an incredibly enriching experience. The course provides a systematic and in-depth overview of the PIERS methodology, pivotal for evaluating and scoring infrastructure and PPP projects against the Sustainable Development Goals. PIERS is extremely useful for governments and their private sector partners because of its defining characteristics: flexibility, adaptability, and complementarity to existing standards. The practical examples offered throughout the course are incredibly beneficial, as they illustrate the application of the 5 PIERS outcomes and showcase real-world scenarios. This hands-on approach enhances understanding and confidence in using the PIERS methodology. I highly recommend this course to those looking to deepen their knowledge and effectiveness in sustainable infrastructure development.”
Dr. Petra Ferk | Associate Professor, Institute for Public-Private Partnership,
and Co-Founder S-Procurement, d.o.o. (Slovenia)
Admission & Tuition
Learners must hold or be completing a degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution, hold a relevant certificate in sustainability or infrastructure from a recognized post-secondary institution, or have equivalent professional experience.
Considering the variability in access to education and programming globally, requests for participation in the courses based on other criteria may be considered.
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*Beyond21 Academy is offering this course free-of-charge to government officials from UNECE member States.
TUITION FEES*
$1500
USD
NOTE (currency): Beyond21 Academy is a Canadian Not-For-Profit Corporation. For consistency, tuition is expressed in USD but can be will be billed in CDN equivalent with applicable taxes at the time of participant billing.
15-hour Training
over 4 weeks
Certificate of Completion
Lead Instructor
Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure and PPP Programs
Melissa is Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure and PPP Programs at Beyond21 Academy and serves as a member of the Bureau (Executive Board) of the UNECE Working Party on PPPs. She has 20 years of experience leading, building, and managing organizations and sustainability initiatives. She is an innovator, having built/designed practical tools, methodologies, and approaches to achieve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes and the Sustainable Development Goals, notably playing a leading role in the development, operationalization, and global promotion of the Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS).
Having prepared, evaluated, and/or embedded the principles of sustainability into the design and implementation of more than 95 projects over the past 10 years, Melissa is a recognized authority on sustainable PPPs and infrastructure. Her portfolio of projects totals a Capex of more than USD 200 billion. In addition to her project work, Melissa has trained hundreds of students, government officials, and private-sector practitioners in the principles of sustainable infrastructure.
Melissa is affiliated with other NGOs/non-profits in the infrastructure/PPP space, including the US-based International Sustainable Resilience Center, and the UK-based not-for-profit Project Aid. She is also serving as Managing Director, Operations, at MDR Strategy Group.
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Some of her prior roles have included Managing Director at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, National Sustainability Program Manager at the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada, and Sustainable Development Associate at Stantec.
What You’ll Earn
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Upcoming Course Date
Schedule Winter 2025 Sessions
Sample Schedule
