Blue Finance: UNEP FI needs a consultant to work on proofreading, editing and production of the Blue Finance Guidance and briefing papers, as well as to work with the UNEP FI designer to aid in the layout and design process. A main focus of the work will also be on ensuring clarity of language, optimizing the structure and flow of the publications for a financial industry audience of banks, insurers and investors (blue economy) and public stakeholders such as policy makers and finance sector regulators, and the finance industry at large.
Banking: UNEP FI needs a consultant to ensure the continued promotion and visibility of the Principles for Responsible Banking and corresponding projects. This involves building strategy and key messaging, providing support on press releases, video production, writing of reports and speeches. It also includes drafting of social media posts and monitoring of social analytics.
Working Remotely
The duration of the contract is 4 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 400 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.
Blue Finance:
The Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative is an expert network designed to catalyze change, share best practices, practical tools and resources and urgently bring sustainable investment and finance practices to ocean-linked sectors. It is aligned across the UN Environment Programme, which works with countries & regions on policy pathways and enabling environments for a sustainable blue economy.
In the long term, the initiative seeks to:
o Mainstream sustainable finance practices supporting ocean health across the global financial sector
o Positively influence mainstream ocean-related investment, insurance and lending to drive development that underpins a sustainable blue economy.
o Catalyze finance sector engagement and practical action to deliver a sustainable blue economy and support the ambitions of SDG14 (Life Below Water);
o Be the go-to platform for financial institutions interested in sustainable ocean finance globally, providing a peer exchange forum, alongside education, training and other knowledge resources
Following the release of its initial ‘Turning the Tide’ guidance on 5 ocean-linked sectors, UNEP FI’s Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative is developing further guidance for financing the transition toward a sustainable blue economy.
The Publication of "Blue Finance" Guidance 2.0 is scheduled for March 2021 and will be focused on (solid) waste management, including plastics, and coastal defensive infrastructure, including nature-based solutions.
Accompanying the Guidance, three ‘briefing papers’ will be published, covering non-renewable and harmful blue economy activities, including the extractives transition (including deep seabed mining and dredging).
The guidance and briefing papers aim to provide science-based and relevant information, recommendations, and sustainable advice on these activities to financial institutions, including banks, insurers and investors.
UNEP FI needs a consultant to work on proofreading, editing and production of both the Guidance 2.0 and the briefing papers.
Banking:
UNEP FI hosts the Principles for Responsible Banking, a unique framework for ensuring that signatory banks’ strategy and practice align with the vision society has set out for its future in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. Over 400 banks representing over 45% of banking assets worldwide have now joined this movement for change, leading the way towards a future in which the banking community makes the kind of positive contribution to people and the planet that society expects. The Principles require communications support throughout their life to ensure they remain front-of-mind to the financial community and continue to have a measurable positive impact. The 2022 work plan of the Principles includes a number of key deliverables, which require additional services such building video production, writing of reports and speeches, forewords, press releases, op-eds and other communications materials.
The objectives:
• Blue Finance Guidance: ensuring the clarity of language and readability is adequate for the financial sector audience of these reports. Ensuring that there is consistency in language across the reports.
• Banking: the consultant will be required to support campaigns of the Principles for Responsible Banking outlined in the table above, providing expert advice, content creation, expert sustainable finance writing with an accurate, high quality of delivery, supported by strong project management.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
• Submission of the edited Blue Economy Guidance 2.0
• Submission of the 3 edited Extractives briefing papers
• Submission of the Biodiversity Collective commitment, video work, content production, editorial and key messages
• Submission of review, editing work, key messages of Resource efficiency case studies
• Submission of key messages and content production work for Financial Inclusion common indicators
• Submission of key messages and content production work for 3-year anniversary of the Principles for Responsible Banking
The consultant will report to the Regional Manager at UNEP FI Overall Supervisor and Direct Supervisor to the Ecosystems Lead at UNEP FI.
Skills & knowledge: Experience in corporate responsibility and sustainability communications, including direct participation in communications of annual and sustainability reports, and specific topics involving ESG and responsible finance. Extensive knowledge in similar initiatives of finance industry, such as the Principles for Responsible Investment or the Principles for Responsible Insurance. Track record of working with those initiatives is highly desired. Extensive experience interacting with and relating to finance professionals and international stakeholders at senior level. Team player with strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal relationships and networks. Motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a collaborative and international environment.
Academic Qualifications: Masters’ Degree in one or several of the following areas: communications, finance, business administration, environmental studies, management or sustainable development. Focus on communication of sustainability / environmental issues is an advantage.
Experience: At least 7 years of relevant experience, especially in communications in the financial services sector, or at NGOs, academic organizations, standard-setting bodies, public agencies focused on sustainability for the financial sector.
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.