The ultimate result of the service will be to establish the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance initiative’s contribution to UNEP FI’s work plan under UNEP´s Project 623.3 indicated below (section 1.4), i.e. to support UNEP FI’s members in contributing to sustainable development worldwide. UNEP FI is focused on accelerating private sector financing for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including developing financial institutions’ knowledge and expertise to contribute to achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water - “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”). The consultant will design and build A) the Sustainable Blue Economy website hub and B) the Net-Zero Asset-Owner’s Alliance hub, with graphic design standards in line with UNEP, and with programming skills to ensure that plugins can be tailored to our new site. The resultant work should be adaptable across all project sites owned by UNEP FI.
Working Remotely.
The duration of the contract will be for 4 months.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic partnership between UN Environment and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with approximately 300 financial institutions as well as a range of partners and organizations, to develop and promote linkages between the environment, sustainability and financial performance. Through its work-streams and regional activities, comprehensive work programme, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realize the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution strategies and operations.
A Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative is hosted by UNEP FI under its Ecosystems Management thematic workstream, which engages financial institutions across the banking, insurance and investment industries. UNEP FI’s Ecosystems team works with member institutions to develop innovative insight and tools for financial institutions to incorporate natural capital, deforestation and related issues into decision making. The team will co-ordinate the Secretariat of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative to raise awareness, build a community of practice and develop insight for financial institutions on ocean and marine ecosystem issues. In order to promote the community of practice we require a ‘project website’ within the UNEP FI WordPress bundle, where we are able to build the Sustainable Blue Economy site, a one-stop-shop on ocean content for financial institutions worldwide. We need an individual with strong experience of WordPress, combined with a flair for design to build out these project sections of the WordPress site.
The Net-Zero Asset Owners’ Alliance project is hosted under its Climate Change thematic workstream. In order to promote the community of practice and enhance its online presence, we require an upgrade of the ‘project website’ within the UNEP FI WordPress bundle, enhancing the current Net-Zero Asset Owners’ Alliance site to bring it in line with industry standards in terms of design and UX, and ensure it is in line with the wider UNEP FI WordPress site (currently being upgraded).
UNEP FI currently does not have the internal capacity to undertake these activities, and hence outside expertise is required for this purpose.
The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of Head UNEP FI (Eric Usher) and report directly to the Ecosystems and Sustainable land use lead (Jessica Smith), and the Climate Change lead at UNEP FI (Remco Fischer).
In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings and under the direct supervision of Jessica Smith and Remco Fischer in close coordination with the Sustainable Blue Economy, Ecosystems and website communications consultant, the NZAOA communications consultant, and with the UNEP FI Communications Coordinator, Designer and Events & Outreach Coordinator, the consultant will carry out the following project tasks for the UNEP FI Programme of Work – as shown below.
Objectives of the website:
• Build an online hub for the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative, including events, principles, membership, resources, and membership community area
• Re-develop the Net Zero Asset Owners’ Alliance project site, in line with industry standards, and adhering to the project site guidelines.
• The project sites will be built within our existing Wordpress bundle, and will be inline with the wider UNEP FI website (currently in an upgrade process)
• The design should be consistent with the UNEP website
• The Sustainable Blue Economy site and Net Zero Asset Owner’s Alliance site will become the template for other UNEP FI microsites, and some of this expansion to other sites may fall in project scope
• All work will be submitted electronically.
The contractor/consultant will co-ordinate the following project/tasks for UNEP FI’s work:
• Create professionally designed wireframes based on a brief, with attention to graphic design elements
• Coordinate with UNEP FI graphic design and web development to ensure alignment of graphics and coding
• Once these wireframes are approved, convert them into highly polished WordPress-based site, with attention to UX
• Expand the work from this initial site to contribute to the UNEP FI site overall re-design, providing wireframes, adding plugins, customizing the code as required to ensure the Sustainable Blue Economy, and Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance (among other projects) is highly visible and accessible from the main pages.
• Ensure SEO is taken into account
• Execute both graphic- and web-design within corporate guidelines to a high professional standard. Note the website’s primary target audience is banks, insurers and investors, Secondary target audience is business, NGOs, policymakers and the general public.
Outputs and Deliverables:
• Final Sustainable Blue Economy project website
• Final Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance project website
• Final ‘Reports’ wordpress template
• UNEP FI main site upgrades (in order to better access the project sites)
• Ensure templates are appropriate and useable by other project sites within UNEP FI.
Skills: • Proactive and independent professional with excellent oral and written communications skills, with ability to communicate clearly and succinctly.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability and willingness to produce high-quality content on tight deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities concurrently in an organized and timely manner with attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain good working relations across diverse stakeholders in a multicultural and geographically dispersed environment.
• Specific skills required:
o Significant experience of designing and building websites in WordPress
o Experience of using and customizing WordPress plugins
o Strong and proven track record in UX and graphic design for websites
o Strong use of Adobe creative suite, especially photoshop
o Basic coding skills required e.g. HTML and CSS
o Advanced programming skills are desirable (PHP and Javascript)
o Database management skills would be considered an asset
o Good understanding of SEO best practices
Academic Qualifications: A University degree relevant to web design, web programming, or equivalent education and experience. Portfolio of previous work required.
Experience: At least 5 years working experience in web development and design. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrable history of producing high-quality WordPress- based sites using both the core WordPress system & themes as well as plug-ins and custom code. Design is a key feature the site, so we’re looking for a Wordpress designer & developer who understands the importance of graphic design, is able to design within corporate guidelines, and can help to bring a site alive with strong UX, and strong functionality.
Language: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.
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.