UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Senior Manager - Nature-related awareness & capacity building

United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)

Home-based/Remote

Result of Service

Through these services the Initiative will be able to engage a broad range of financial institutions, including commercial banks, asset managers, insurers, and multi-lateral development banks and agencies in implementing global finance sector principles to catalyze integration of sustainability into financial market practice. The frameworks UNEP FI is supporting implementation include Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) now committed to by more than 210 banks collectively holding USD 53 trillion in assets, or one third of the global banking sector, and the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), established 2012 by UNEP FI and today applied by one-quarter of the world’s insurers (25% of world premium).

UNEP FI has an Ecosystems workstream that includes research and engagement with financial institutions on financing for a sustainable blue economy and sustainable land use, and will expand its focus on sustainable finance for food systems.

The services will also help promote sustainability into all aspects of the financial sector’s operations and services. Finally, the services will help the Initiative to broaden its outreach both within UNEP / UN and external to banks, insurers and investors, governments, regulators, private sector and multi-stakeholders, including supporting institutions.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

10 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 450 banks, insurers and investors. For over 28 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-streams and regional activities, peer learning, methodology development, training and research, UNEP FI promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

UNEP FI is looking for a senior manager to coordinate all industry-related work on nature and biodiversity with regards to capacity building and work in tandem with subject matter experts, key stakeholders and Signatory banks to:

• Lead (further) develop PRB guidance documents (particularly focusing on updating and refining existing guidance on biodiversity & creating an alignment document with the TNFD based on aforementioned guidance)
• Lead capacity building and community of practice for banks on biodiversity and nature; included and not limited to the PRB Biodiversity Community, a Nature-based Solutions (NbS) webinar series.
• Lead development of awareness and training activities on natural capital risk with private and public sector banks in South Africa, Colombia, Peru and Indonesia to use the ENCORE tool.
• Lead and coordinate day-to-day secondment of senior consultants into selected banks in South Africa, Peru, and Colombia
• Develop an M&E strategy to track the UNEP FI nature and banking indicator, and the SECO project impact indicators:
• Support the role out of TNFD support activities such as TNFD pilots with PRB members.

UNEP FI needs a consultant to work in the nature team to focus on awareness raising and capacity building, and coordinate the expanding body of work on this topic under this thematic.

Objectives:
In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings and under the direct supervision of the UNEP FI Nature & Ecosystems Lead, in close cooperation with the wider nature team the consultant will carry out the following project tasks as shown below. The consultant will Support UNEP FI’s capacity building and awareness raising.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

  1. Biodiversity target setting for banks
    To address the need for further guidance on biodiversity target setting UNEP FI released guidance in 2021, allowing banks to take a systematic approach to setting and achieving biodiversity targets. The guidance presents four real-life case studies, includes a detailed how-to guide and has been developed by UNEP FI and UNEP-WCMC based on discussions and input from a working group of 30 PRB signatories, with review and input by a number of experts.

To ensure global uptake of the biodiversity target setting and to ensure linkage to the ENCORE tool are made, UNEP FI will under this activity work with selected banks, including both PRB and non-PRB signatories in priority countries (Colombia, Peru, and South Africa), to apply the biodiversity target setting. In addition, UNEP FI will support a small global working group of PRB banks to set their biodiversity targets.
These capacity building activities for banks will complement the work of the Responsible Banking Academy. UNEP FI will work to develop training materials which are globally relevant but translated to the local circumstances and will work together with local partners in each country in carrying out the proposed activities.

  1. Coordinate secondment of natural capital specialists at banks in 3 countries
    UNEP FI will second ‘natural capital analysts’ within select banks to help further the nature agenda on a practical level in individual banks with demonstration activities. This would take place in PRB Signatory banks in Peru, Colombia and South Africa where UNEP FI and the ENCORE (‘Exploring Natural Capital Risks, Opportunity and Exposure’) team have already-established relationships. There should be a close working and learning journey between the piloting bank priority countries – to see the regional differences in application and outcomes as well as lessons learnt at the end of the circa 12 months. The analysts would also support the bank to set PRB targets on nature-related themes, especially biodiversity. This capacity building effort will be closely aligned with ongoing UNEP FI capacity strengthening programmes such as the PRB Academy and other programme of capacity building for banks to deliver on SDGs including 14 and 15.

The consultant would be based in the UNEP FI Nature team but to ensure seamless coordination between banking, nature and regional teams as well as key partners including SECO country offices and regional banking leaders.

  1. Convene and deliver training and capacity
    Lead the NbS investing learning journey, working with the banking team, liaising with the donor and thought- and practice leaders.
  2. Monitoring and Progress Controls

¿ Deliver support to banks for target setting through a series of workshops and individual engagements with staff from specific banks
¿ Based on support provided to banks and the progress made by banks as a result, deliver case studies from Peru, Colombia and Indonesia, and South Africa showcasing the steps and processes followed by banks to set their biodiversity targets.
¿ Establish an M&E system to monitor performance and impact of this capacity building work

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, working in close coordination with UNEP FI’s Communications Coordinator and Ecosystems team.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in natural sciences, environmental engineering, business, finance or a related discipline. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 12 years of relevant experience.

Professional Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible work experience related to financial sector, biodiversity and natural capital.

Skills & Knowledge: Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with digital technology; ability to cope with juggling multiple tasks across diverse projects in an organized and timely manner; attention to detail. The consultant is expected to have a track record allowing for sufficient credibility to work with senior professionals in target-setting, risk and disclosure. Experience in technical assistance in developing/emerging markets and experience working for public sector donors especially bilateral development agencies would be valuable. Experience living or working in the priority countries and/or those regions preferred. Proven experience with capacity building or development of learning materials.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Spanish is required for the assignment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

LANGUAGE REQUIRED

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