The Sustainable Banking Programme Manager Expert will be responsible for supporting the effective delivering of feedback & support meetings to PRB Signatory Banks, following up on PRB report submissions, maintaining the integrity of the Banking Team database, and supporting the Team with planning and rolling out implementation focused webinars to the Banking membership.
Geneva, Switzerland (Remote working possible)
The duration of the contract will be 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 250 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 that the Banking Team can provide effective implementation support to Signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking, including the annual review, feedback & support meetings (mostly virtual) between the UNEP FI Secretariat and each Signatory Bank, UNEP FI is looking for a Sustainable Banking Programme Manager. The Programme Manager would support Banking Team members by providing organizational support for the rolling out of the Banking work programme, ensuring effective and efficient delivery of individual feedback and support meetings, following up with Signatories on submission of reporting, supporting the delivery of global and regional webinars to the Banking membership, and would be responsible for managing and maintaining the integrity of the Banking database.
Specific tasks and responsibilities would include:
• Supporting and working closely with Review Experts with managing the calendar for individual feedback and support meetings to Signatory Banks and engaging with banks to organize these meetings.
• Following up with banks on the submission of their PRB reporting, working closely with the UNEP FI Regional Coordinators when appropriate.
• Tracking reports, updating the database and the UNEP FI PRB Signatories webpage.
• Updating and maintaining the Banking Team database and having overall responsibility for its integrity.
• Provide support for planning and roll out of webinars to UNEP FI member banks at global and regional levels.
• Tracking Banking Team engagements with banks, and their participation in implementation working groups.
• Assisting with necessary tasks for the effective roll out of the Banking work programme.
Objectives & Expectations: The Sustainable Banking Programme Manager is responsible for providing support to the Banking Team by ensuring all Principles for Responsible Banking Signatories are submitting their reporting timeously, individual feedback and support meetings are scheduled within the provided timeframes, and the effective roll out of the webinar schedule to support PRB implementation by Signatories.
Outputs:
• Delivering the calendar for planned individual feedback and support meetings for each quarter
• Delivering a finalized schedule for individual feedback and support meetings to be held by Review Experts with each PRB Signatory Bank
• Delivering monthly reports on the status of PRB report submissions by banks, and tracking reports received, correspondence with banks, and outstanding reports
• Responsible for updating the Banking database, ensuring uniformity and accuracy of information in the database, and ensuring harmonization of data across tracking sheets
• Developing a webinar plan for each quarter, including roles and responsibilities, together with other Banking Team members, Regional Coordinators and UNEP FI Workstreams, for the roll out of PRB implementation webinars at global and regional levels. Maintain updated information about webinar attendance and feedback.
The consultant will report to the Head of UNEP Finance Initiative, who is the overall supervisor, and report directly to Programme Manager and the Banking Team Lead.
Skills: Organized and highly proficient in Excel and other MS software. Reliable, deliver consistently high quality within agreed timeframes. Follow through on commitments towards others. Quickly gain and then maintain people’s trust. Team player have interest in and derive joy from collaborating with others. Adapt behavior and style of communication to different cultural contexts. Responsible for ensuring all Principles for Responsible Banking Signatories are in line with their commitments, and UNEP FI Secretariat support is delivered timeously and professionally. Role is thus crucial for the legitimacy and credibility of the Principles, their signatories and ultimately UNEP FI. Consequently, as the successful applicant you must have demonstrated integrity throughout your career. Motivated and driven by the purpose the team/organization is working towards and the impacts trying to be achieved. Please consider that the remuneration and benefits for this position will be lower than what would be offered in the financial industry for a position requiring similar qualifications and experience.
Academic Qualifications: Minimum bachelor’s degree, in international relations, management, business studies, social sciences, law, environmental studies, political studies, administration or related field.
Experience: At least 5 years’ experience of working with the private or public sector. Experience of building and managing relationships with external stakeholders. Experience of presenting and moderating conference calls and organising events/workshops/Working groups and meetings. Programme management experience in international organizations, the private sector, NGOs or consultancies. Experience working on public-private sector partnerships, specifically in the sustainable finance field or in related field such as corporate responsibility is desirable. Experience in programme management, organizational functions, and administration is desirable.
Language: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Excellent writing skills are required. Knowledge of other 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.