UNEP FI’s Positive Impact Initiative is an integral part of the Initiative’s efforts to fulfil its mission to “identify, promote, and realise the adoption of best eniromental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution operations”. By developing a common understanding of what constitutes positive imapct finance and working with members and their stakeholders on the development of practical standards and implementation tools to adopt impact analysis and management in mainstream business and finance, the Initiative is a central contribution to the SDG financing agenda.
The services rendered will help to enable and promote the adoption of a holistic and impact-based approach to sustainability considerations in business and finance and thus help foster SDG serving entities and programmes as well as creating new SDG business opportunities.
The final result of the consultant’s work will be a research paper exploring how an integrated approach to the SDGs can unlock private sector solutions and private finance for climate change in the MENA region, with a specific focus on two countries (Egypt and Morocco), and to be presented at high-level workshops in both countries.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
• Identification of relevant public (government) and private sector (UNEP FI members) players with which the expert team will work to collect data, and ultimately share the results with (via the workshops/roundtables)
• Engagement of these players one to one to explain the work / project (in-person if COVID19 allows)
• Research /preparation of the country analyses, based on the PII holistic impact management methodology.
• Consolidation of analyses using additional desktop resources and interviews as required.
• Preparation of recommendations and action plans.
• Presentation and discussion of results via a workshop in each country (virtual)
• Presentation of report and findings via a global webinar
• Supervision of any local staff hired to support the process.
• Liaison and coordination with UNEP FI and UNDP teams as appropriate.
Working remotely / Geneva
The duration of the contract is for 5 months.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with approximately 300 financial institutions and a range of partners and organisations, to understand the linkages between sustainability issues and finance and to promote sustainable finance internationally.
Started in 2017, the UNEP FI Positive Impact Initiative is a think-and-do-tank within UNEP FI exclusively focused on closing the $2.5 trillion SDG financing gap. Based on a unique theory of impact, PII works with finance sector representatives and other stakeholder groups to mainstream impact analysis and management in business and finance as a cornerstone to financing the SDGs.
The SDG-Climate Facility is a multi-partner platform focusing on the impacts of climate change on human security in the Arab region, especially in the context of countries in crisis. It brings UNDP together with the League of Arab States (LAS), the Arab Water Council (AWC), UNDRR, UNEP FI, UN-Habitat and WFP to deliver climate-oriented solutions that address climate challenges, and to bring co-benefits across the SDGs. In doing so, it aims to scale up access to and delivery of climate finance, including through innovative partnerships with the private sector.
UNEP FI needs the services of an expert in finance and impact management to deliver the SDG component of its collaboration with UNDP.
The Consultant will be reporting directly to the Programme Lead for the Positive Impact Initiative at the UNEP FI Secretariat and will be under the overall supervision of the Head of Unit, UNEP FI Secretariat.
Skills: Thorough understanding of banking and investment – origination, structuration and distribution of corporate finance products, KYC and credit analysis procedures. Thorough understanding of sustainability related procedures, in particular environmental and social risk management, and impact analysis. Strong analytical and conceptualization skills. Capacity to translate complex concepts into practical applications (for business).
Academic Qualifications: Master’s Degree in one of the following or related areas: economics, finance, business administration. Additional academic background in other, non-finance specific fields is relevant.
Experience: At least ten years working experience in finance, with direct experience in corporate/investment banking, and with at least three years focusing on sustainability management. Significant experience in doing business in emerging markets and developing countries.
Language: For this position fluency in English is required. Fluency in French and/or Arabic is considered an advantage.
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.