The Sustainable Banking Expert will be responsible for developing the Feedback and Support framework, and leading the PRB feedback & review process, which includes providing implementation support to Signatory banks. The successful candidate will provide regular updates to the Banking team about trends, challenges and good practices identified through the feedback and review process. They will build a small team of Sustainable Banking Experts and oversee their work.
Objectives & Expectations: The Sustainable Banking Expert leads this feedback & review process. In addition to ensuring each bank is making progress at an adequate speed and providing feedback and support, the outcomes and learnings from these meetings feed into the broader peer learning and support structure all banks benefit from as well as into the biennial collective progress report the community of Signatories has agreed to publish through UNEP FI. They will be the first point of contact for Signatory banks' implementation-related questions.
Outputs:
• Develop the Feedback and Support framework based, on the requirements of the Principles for Responsible Banking, guidance of the Banking Board and the needs and feedback of member banks.
• Conduct meetings (mostly virtually) once a year with each Signatory bank to review and discuss their progress and provide feedback and support for their further implementation of the Principles. Meetings will be held together with UNEP FI’s respective regional coordinator, with whom the Individual Review Team will be expected to collaborate closely.
• Based on the individual reviews and in coordination with the Banking Team Lead, identifying cases where banks need to take additional action to be line with their commitments. Where shortcomings are not addressed adequately, in coordination with the Banking Team Lead referring the case to the Banking Board.
• Identifying case studies and good practices to feed into the systematic peer learning program, which will be set up and implemented by another part of UNEP FI’s Banking Team.
• Sharing knowledge and experience to help develop the sustainable banking expertise of more junior team members.
Specific tasks and responsibilities
• 1st deliverable – Submission of a proposed Feedback and Support framework for undertaking the review of Signatory bank’s PRB reporting, and conducting the support meeting recommendations.
• 2nd deliverable – Submission of the amended framework, based on inputs from the Banking team, and outcomes of a testing process with selected banks to ensure the efficacy of the framework.
• 3rd deliverable – Submission of the final framework, including relevant feedback templates, together with a detailed plan for which banks will be reviewed in Q3.
• 4th deliverable – Report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting.
• 5th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of a detailed plan for which banks will be reviewed in Q4.
• 6th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of recommendations for consideration for how the framework can be improved, based on experience of the first 3 months, , and good practices and challenges identified.
• 7th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of recommendations for areas that Working Groups should focus their support in order to strengthen implementation of the Principles across Signatories. Submission of a detailed plan for which banks will be reviewed in Q1.
• 8th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting.
• 9th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting.
• 10th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of further recommendations for areas that Working Groups should focus their support in order to strengthen implementation of the Principles across Signatories, including good practices and challenges identified.
• 11th deliverable – Submission of a report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of a detailed plan for which banks will be reviewed in Q2. Submission of recommendations for areas that Working Groups should focus their support in order to strengthen implementation of the Principles across Signatories, including good practices and challenges identified.
• 12th deliverable – Report detailing the trends and outcomes of the review and engagements with Signatory banks on their PRB reporting. Submission of further recommendations for consideration for how the framework can be improved, based on experience of the first 9 months.
Geneva (some remote working possible)
Expected duration is for 12 months.
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 360 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 carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.
UNEP FI’s banking team is responsible for the initiative’s work with its over 230 member banks in more than 60 countries around the world. This includes overseeing and supporting the implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking.
About the Principles for Responsible Banking:
On 22nd September 2019, UNEP FI member banks representing USD 47 trillion and with that over a third of the global banking industry officially signed and launched the Principles for Responsible Banking together with UN Secretary General Guterres. The Principles for Responsible Banking guide the change towards a new, sustainable global banking industry that takes on a key role in helping society to achieve its goals for a sustainable future. With these Principles, banks commit to strategically align their business with and scale up their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate. The Principles are supported by a strong implementation framework that defines clear accountabilities and requires each bank to set, publish and work towards ambitious targets and report publicly on their positive and negative impacts and progress in implementing their commitments. Banks that are not in line with their commitments can be removed from the list of signatories.
In order to ensure effective implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking, there will be an annual review, feedback & support meeting (mostly virtual) between the UNEP FI Secretariat and each Signatory Bank, usually following the Signatory Bank’s annual reporting. In addition to ensuring each bank is making progress at an adequate speed and providing feedback and support, the outcomes and learnings from these meetings will feed into the broader peer learning and support structure all banks benefit from as well as the biennial collective progress report the community of Signatories has agreed to publish through UNEP FI. UNEP FI is thus looking for a Sustainable Banking Expert to lead this feedback & review process.
As Sustainable Banking Expert joining UNEP FI’s growing Banking Team, you would be responsible for leading this feedback & review process. As more Signatories join, we would be looking to build up a small team of Sustainable Banking Experts to take on the increasing workload.
Specific tasks and responsibilities would include:
• Develop details of the Feedback and Support process based on the requirements of the Principles for Responsible Banking, guidance of the Banking Board and the needs and feedback of member banks.
• Meet (mostly virtual) once a year with each Signatory Bank to review and discuss their progress and provide feedback & support for their further implementation of the Principles. Meetings will be held together with UNEP FI’s respective regional coordinators, with which the Sustainable Banking Expert is expected to collaborate closely.
• Based on your review and in coordination with the Banking Team Lead, identify cases where banks need to take additional action to be line with their commitments. Where shortcomings are not addressed adequately, in coordination with the Banking Team Lead refer the case to UNEP FI’s banking governance body.
• Be the first point of contact for Signatory banks' implementation-related questions.
• Identify case studies and good practices to feed into the systematic peer learning program, which will be set up and implemented by another part of UNEP FI’s Banking Team.
• Lead the production of the biennial collective progress report.
• Share your knowledge and experience and help develop the sustainable banking expertise of more junior team members.
The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Partial remote working may be negotiated.
Skills: The candidate should have proven ability to manage multiple projects and activities simultaneously and in an organized and timely manner. He or she should be able to work independently and have strong problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, the candidate should have a track record of delivering consistently high quality as well as strong analytical and conceptual skills. Excellent writing skills are required. Able to quickly understand, synthesize and analyze substantial amounts of information. Reliable, delivers consistently high quality within agreed timeframes. Proven ability to adapt style of communication to different cultural contexts. Demonstrated integrity throughout career.
Academic Qualifications: University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, environment, international relations, development or a related filed. A first-level university degree in combination with additional relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: At least 10 years of professional experience and expertise in sustainable Banking. Well acquainted with and directly involved in implementing international sustainable banking best practices and standards. Experience working in/with banks is an advantage as well as experience working in international contexts. The candidate should have successfully manged complex, ideally multi-stakeholder, projects. Ideally, you also have previous experience in advisory/consulting roles.
Language: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations are 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.