GRI Professional Certification Pathway

Prepare to Become a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional.

Master Impact Reporting with the GRI Standards

Turn complex organisational impacts into clear, credible and comparable sustainability reporting. Developed by GRI and delivered live by the University of Sarajevo—a GRI Certified Training Partner licensed to deliver worldwide—this structured four-course pathway builds the knowledge and practical skills needed to apply the GRI Standards, report human rights impacts, use the GRI Sector Standards and navigate the wider sustainability reporting landscape.

The Four-Course
Learning Pathway

The programme comprises four required GRI-licensed courses covering the essential elements of sustainability impact reporting.

01

Reporting with the GRI Standards

Learn how to identify organisational impacts, determine material topics and report in accordance with the GRI Standards.

02

Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards

Learn how to identify organisational impacts, determine material topics and report in accordance with the GRI Standards.

03

Navigating the GRI Sector Standards

Apply sector-specific guidance to strengthen the relevance, completeness and comparability of sustainability reporting.

04

Transparency for Tomorrow:

Decoding the Sustainability Reporting Landscape

Understand how GRI connects with the ESRS, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and other major reporting instruments.

Who Should Attend

Sustainability, ESG and CSR professionals

Sustainability reporting teams and disclosure leads

Finance, accounting, risk and compliance professionals

Consultants, assurers and reporting practitioners

Public- and private-sector professionals

Academics, researchers and educators

Programme at a Glance

4 Required Courses
A complete GRI professional learning pathway

Live, Instructor-Led
Direct trainer guidance and practical application

Two Language Options
English or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

Two Delivery Formats
Live Online or Face-to-Face

Tailored in-house delivery is also available for organisations worldwide.

5-Day Intensive
Programme Agenda

The four required GRI courses are delivered across the first four days, followed by dedicated exam preparation and certification guidance on Day 5.

DAY

Programme Focus

DAY 1

Reporting with the GRI Standards

DAY 2

Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards

DAY 3

Navigating the GRI Sector Standards

DAY 4

Transparency for Tomorrow: Decoding the Sustainability Reporting Landscape

DAY 5

Exam Preparation, Practice Q&A and Certification Guidance

The pathway comprises four separate GRI-licensed courses. Day 5 provides additional exam preparation and is not a separate certification course.

Skills You Will Gain

By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

Translate the GRI reporting process into a practical reporting plan

Identify and prioritise an organisation’s most significant impacts

Determine material topics and structure disclosures in accordance with the GRI Standards

Integrate human rights impacts into sustainability reporting

Apply the GRI Sector Standards to strengthen reporting relevance and completeness

Navigate the relationship between GRI, ESRS, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and other reporting instruments

Certification Exam at a Glance

The certification exam becomes available after all four required courses have been completed. It is taken online through the GRI Academy and is currently available in English and Spanish.

40 Questions · 60 Minutes

Single-, multiple- and inline-choice questions.

75% Passing Score

Minimum score required to pass.

Online, On-Demand & Proctored

Closed-book exam taken through the GRI Academy.

Up to 3 Attempts

Within six months, with a seven-day cooling-off period between attempts.

Your Learning and Certification Journey

Complete Each Course

Receive a digital GRI Certificate of Completion showing the approved CPD hours for that course.

Complete All Four Courses

Become eligible to take the online GRI Professional Certification Exam through the GRI Academy.

Pass the Exam

Earn the digital GRI Certified Sustainability Professional credential and be listed in GRI’s directory of certified sustainability professionals.

How This Programme Can
Strengthen Your Career

How This Programme Can Strengthen Your Career

Globally Recognised GRI Credentiallete Each Course

Demonstrate verified sustainability reporting knowledge with a professional credential issued directly by GRI.

Expert-Led Live Learning

Build confidence through interactive sessions, direct expert guidance and peer exchange.

Practical GRI Application

Apply the GRI Standards, impact materiality, human rights reporting and sector guidance to realistic organisational challenges.

Career-Ready Reporting Skills

Build transferable capabilities for the evolving ESG and sustainability reporting landscape.

Strengthen Your Employability

Demonstrate job-relevant reporting knowledge across sustainability, finance, risk, assurance, governance and advisory work.

GRI Directory Visibility

Be listed in GRI’s online directory of certified sustainability professionals.

Build a stronger professional profile through structured, applied GRI learning, practical reporting capability, verified achievement and lasting career value.

Programme Fee
& What’s Included

Live Online or Face-to-Face at the University of Sarajevo

The same fee applies to both scheduled delivery formats.

€1,150
per Participant

The Programme Fee Includes

  • All four required GRI-licensed courses delivered over four training days
  • A fifth day dedicated to exam preparation, practice Q&A and certification guidance
  • Licensed course materials
  • A digital GRI Certificate of Completion for each successfully completed course, showing the approved CPD hours, with 18 CPD hours available in total.
  • One GRI Professional Certification Exam attempt

Language

Training is delivered in English or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. The GRI Professional Certification Exam is currently available in English or Spanish through the GRI Academy.

Group & In-House Options

  • 10% discount for groups of five or more participants from the same institution
  • Custom pricing for larger groups, institutional and donor-funded programmes
  • Tailored in-house delivery available worldwide and quoted separately based on group size, location and logistics

Payment & Enrolment

Payment is made by bank transfer following registration. The invoice and payment instructions are provided after registration has been reviewed, and enrolment is confirmed upon receipt of payment.

Meet Your GRI Trainers

The programme is delivered by nominated trainers who maintain the valid GRI Certified Sustainability Professional credential required for the courses they teach.

The interdisciplinary team combines academic depth with professional experience in sustainability reporting, sustainable finance, climate risk, organisational performance, energy efficiency, governance and regulation

Jasmina Mangafić, PhD

Full Professor
Sustainability Reporting and Sustainable Transition Expert

GRI Professional
Credentials
  • GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
  • GRI Certified ESRS Sustainability Professional
Selected International
Qualifications
  • FSA Credential Holder (IFRS Foundation)
  • Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate (GARP)
Areas of
Expertise
  • Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Standards
  • Sustainable Finance & Climate Risk
  • Energy Transition & Circular Economy

Ljiljan Veselinović, PhD

Full Professor
Quality, Evaluation and Data Analytics Expert

GRI Professional
Credentials
  • GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
Selected International
Qualifications
  • Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate (GARP)
  • Certificate in Evaluation Practice
Areas of
Expertise
  • ESG Strategy & Organisational
  • Sustainability Quality Management & Performance Measurement Impact
  • Evaluation & Data Analytics

Azra Smječanin, PhD

Architect
Energy Efficiency and International Project Expert

GRI Professional
Credentials
  • GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
  • GRI Certified ESRS Sustainability Professional
Selected International
Qualifications
  • European Energy Manager
  • Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance
Areas of
Expertise
  • Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Buildings
  • Climate Finance & Low-Carbon Investment
  • International Project Delivery & EU Funds

Josip Nikolić

Legal, Regulatory and Public-Sector Governance Expert

GRI Professional
Credentials
  • GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
  • GRI Certified ESRS Sustainability Professional
Selected International
Qualifications
  • Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance
  • Certified Expert in ESG and Impact Investing
Areas of
Expertise
  • ESG Governance & Regulatory Frameworks
  • Sustainable Finance & Climate Policy
  • Public-Sector Strategy & Project Governance

Ready to Strengthen Your Reporting Expertise?

Choose an individual course for focused professional development or complete a structured pathway towards professional certification.

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