The outcomes of this services will be used to strengthen the UNEP FI Investment Committee for the period, and help UNEP FI achieve its goals as set in its UNEP project documents. This will help the member institutions to implement environmental considerations into the everyday activities.
Working Remotely
The duration of the contract is for 2 months.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic public-private partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with approximately 240 financial institutions, which are signatories to the UNEP FI Statements of Environmental Commitment, and a range of partners and organisations, to develop and promote linkages between the environment, sustainability and financial performance.
The focus of this consultancy is to support the UNEP FI response to the EC consultation on sustainable finance, the launch of the UNEP FI-PRI investment leadership programme as well as to help elaborate a policy strategy for the Legal Impact Framework project.
The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of Head UNEP Finance Initiative and report directly to Programme Officer Investment Commission at UNEP FI.
In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings, and under the supervision of the Head UNEP FI, as well as the UNEP FI Investment Team, the Consultant will assist with the UNEP FI Investment Committee activities as per the Programme of Work for the group and will support with driving forward the group's projects on Legal Impact Framework.
The Consultant will undertake UNEP FI response to the EC consultation. UNEP FI has identified approximately 15 priority questions and UNEPFI team members are preparing draft responses and collating information. The intention is that UNEPFI’s response will primarily focus on how UNEPFI might support the Commission as it implements its sustainable finance strategy. It will probably not make specific recommendations to the Commission. The tasks will involve consolidating UNEPFI team inputs into a draft response, and then addressing comments and suggestions that are made on this draft response by the UNEPFI team. There may also be some calls/discussions with the UNEPFI team and/or management. Following the submission of UNEPFI’s response, prepare a short briefing that presents the main elements of UNEPFI’s submission.
The Consultant will also undertake the preparations to launch the UNEP FI-PRI Investment Leadership Programme. This will involve the provision of strategic advice on work programming/priorities and on external communications. The primary tasks will include discussions with the UNEPFI team, the review of proposals from the partners and possibly some drafting/editing. Finally they will undertake the Legal Impact Framework policy work, and this will involve the review of the project outputs, with a particular focus on how the programme is to be advanced (e.g. what the next steps should be, how specific recommendations might be integrated into the Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century programme). It will also involve the provision of advice on work programming/priorities and on external communications.
The Consultant will have the following responsibilities:
i) Undertake UNEP FI response to the EC consultation consolidating UNEPFI team inputs into a draft response, and then addressing comments and suggestions that are made on this draft response by the UNEPFI team.
ii) Undertake the preparations to launch the UNEP FI-PRI Investment Leadership Programme by provising strategic advice on work programming/priorities and on external communications through the submission of a short paper.
iii) Undertake the preparations to launch the UNEP FI-PRI Investment Leadership Programme. This will be done by providing a review of proposals from the partners and the drafting/editing of these proposals before submision.
iv) Undertake the Legal Impact Framework policy work through the review of the project outputs, with a particular focus on how the programme is to be advanced (e.g. what the next steps should be, how specific recommendations might be integrated into the iduciary Duty in the 21st Century programme). This will come in the form of a short review paper.
Skills: Proven knowledge in the field of sustainable finance, particularly responsible investment and a strong understanding of ESG risks and legal frameworks for institutional investors around sustainability issues (e.g. pension funds, insurers); ability to cope with and manage complex projects and activities in an organised and timely manner; proven conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills; excellent communication (spoken and written) skills; outstanding ability to conduct both desk-top research and on-the-ground fieldwork; ability to work independently and with remote teams. Proven project management skills, particularly in international and multi-stakeholder environments. Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills. Excellent written skills, including strong report writing skills. Ability to work and deliver independently with little oversight.
Academic Qualifications: Master’s Degree is required in one or several of the following areas: finance, law, business administration, environmental studies, economics, management or sustainable development. Ideally, the consultant will have published in this area or have access to, or support from, relevant academic networks.
Experience: 7 years of relevant experience is required, especially in the financial services sector and/ or responsible investment, or at NGOs, academic organizations, standard-setting bodies or similar bodies.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
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.