It is acknowledged that sustainability is a broad field and that organisations may employ practices of varying maturity. For example, many organisations are familiar with responsibilities and reporting around climate change due to requirements under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), however progress on other sustainability-related areas such as social issues may be more nascent. The research should not be limited to a subset of sustainability matters, however it may be helpful to clearly segregate results based on relevant topics or themes, and/or types of organisations.

Example of areas that are of interest to ICAS, without limitation:

• Is governance over sustainability integrated within the wider governance framework of an organisation, or how else is it managed?
  • To what extent and how is sustainability integrated into strategy?
  • To what extent and how is sustainability integrated into operations management and business decision-making?
  • To what extent and how is sustainability integrated into KPIs and reporting?
  • To what extent and how is sustainability integrated in a company’s risk analysis and business model considerations?
  • Who does all of the above?

• What is the role of the finance team within the sustainability governance process?
• Does the governance process consider both the impact of the entity’s operations on sustainability matters as well as the impact of sustainability matters on the organisation?
• Governance is the domain of the Board, with specific areas usually delegated to the audit committee. For comprehensive governance, which committees address which elements of governance over sustainability?
• Knowledge – is Board knowledge and understanding sufficient to effectively scrutinise sustainability matters arising, and how is that knowledge best acquired and kept current?
• Completeness – to what extent and how do those charged with governance ensure that impacts, risks and opportunities arising from sustainability considerations are identified and addressed?
• Appropriate governance – once material topics are identified, what are the appropriate controls and structures to have in place to monitor emerging matters?
• Do organisations employ the same governance process over both financial and non-financial reporting? If not, how do they differ?
• How does organisational culture relate to the implementation and effectiveness of the governance of sustainability practices within an organisation?
• Does effective governance over sustainability support a link between reporting and action?
• How do evolving regulatory frameworks and government policy affect governance over sustainability?
• What is the role of new technologies, including AI, in governance over sustainability?
• How resilient or future-proof are the governance of sustainability processes? For example, will the changes made to respond to TCFD requirements be sufficient to address what is coming next (e.g. the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TIFSD) etc.)?

If you are interested in undertaking a project in this area, please email research@icas.com attaching a call for research application form (available at icas.com) and a proposal together with summary CVs no later than 23:59 (GMT) on 24 November 2024.

Your application should:

• explain why you believe you or your team are suitable individuals to undertake the project;
• demonstrate your level of, or access to, knowledge and expertise in this area and how this will be leveraged in your proposed methodology;
• state how any team will be structured and responsibilities for completion of the report.

The proposal should identify the specific topics which you will focus on and include:

• details of the proposed research questions and methodology;
• a brief review of prior research/literature (academic and other), if any;
• how the project will advance current knowledge on the topic;
• the extent to which the research will be breaking new ground or building upon work which has already been undertaken;
• a summary of the key issues which you believe are likely to arise from the project;
• the anticipated impact and influence of the project; and
• the amount of grant, in sterling, which you require to complete the project imperatively with a breakdown of the estimated costs.

The Guidance Notes for Research Applicants (available at icas.com) explain what should be included in the proposal.

The research proposals will be considered by a panel of academics and non-academics to arrive at a final decision. Presentations will be required by shortlisted applicants in order to reach a final decision. Dates for such presentations will be set at the mutual convenience of ICAS and the applicants. Applicants will be advised of the final decision before the end of December 2024.

For further information about this funding opportunity please contact the ICAS research centre: research@icas.com.