Do you have a degree at Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s level in Finance, Economics, Banking, Insurance, Accounting, Actuarial sciences or MBA (with strong finance and quantitative components)? You can now achieve your Chartered Development Finance Analyst (CDFA) professional qualification through a conversion process by taking two advanced certificate core courses and, at least, one advanced certificate elective course. All the courses are presented and examined online by senior academics from partner universities and senior development finance specialists.
To receive the Chartered Development Finance Analyst™ (CDFA) Professional membership, a student is expected to attend structured online classes, submit individual assignments and write exams.
Core Courses
- Advanced Certificate in Project Finance
- Advanced Certificate in International Finance for Development
Electives
- Advanced Certificate in Innovative Finance
- Advanced Certificate in Blended Finance
- Advanced Certificate in in Microenterprise Finance
- Advanced Certificate in International Trade Finance
- Advanced Certificate in Investing for Environmental and Social Impact
- Advanced Certificate in Public Sector Finance
Courses Schedules
CDFA Professional courses are run in a 4-semesters year in February, May, August and October. All courses are presented and examined online.
2026
| February Semester | Dates of Delivery |
| Advanced Certificate in Project Finance | 2-6 February 2026 |
| Advanced Certificate in International Finance for Development | 16-20 February 2026 |
| One Elective | 2-6 March 2026 |
| May Semester | Dates of Delivery |
| Advanced Certificate in Project Finance | 4-8 May 2026 |
| Advanced Certificate in International Finance for Development | 18-22 May 2026 |
| One Elective | 1-5 June 2026 |
| August Semester | Dates of Delivery |
| Advanced Certificate in Project Finance | 3-7 August 2026 |
| Advanced Certificate in International Finance for Development | 17-21 August 2026 |
| One Elective | 7-11 September 2026 |
| October Semester | Dates of Delivery |
| Advanced Certificate in Project Finance | 5-9 October 2026 |
| Advanced Certificate in International Finance for Development | 19-23 October 2026 |
| One Elective | 2-6 November 2026 |
CIDEF is the global professional membership body for Chartered Development Finance Analyst™ (CDFA). CDFA professional membership is globally recognised by all major development finance institutions.
If you already have a Master’s in Development or Sustainable Finance, you can apply to become a CDFA without taking the Professional Accredited conversion courses above.
To find out whether your degree is accredited for full CDFA professional membership, please check CIDEF Accredited Programs for the complete list of universities.
To qualify for CDFA professional membership, students are required to register and pass 3 Advanced certificate courses at $1500 per course.
There is a rewriting fee of USD300 if a student fails a course and opts to retake it.
You can register for the programs Online or contact dina@globalcidef.com.