Duties and Responsibilities
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 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 30 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 promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative is hosted by UNEP FI under its Nature workstream, which engages financial institutions across the banking, insurance and investment industries. UNEP FI’s Ecosystem 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 co-ordinates the Secretariat of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative to raise awareness, maintain a community of practice and develop insight, tools and resources for financial institutions on ocean and marine ecosystem issues. The Initiative also champions the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles. The team requires support to lead projects, maintain the smooth operation, resource production and member engagement of the secretariat. Objectives: To assist with delivering the Nature work plan, the consultant is required: 1. To organize and execute relevant activities to ensure financial institutions are actively engaged in the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative, e.g. onboarding new members, writing newsletters, organizing or participating in meetings, webinars, podcasts. To be involved in content development for such webinars / events / website with the opportunity to lead on some of these tasks. 2. To support the development of concrete actions and outputs for banks, insurers and investors to align their activities with sustainable blue finance and support the implementation of the Principles across lines of business, asset classes, industries and geographies, e.g. supporting work on developing financial instrument guidance where relevant, contributing to collaborative workstream relating to seafood finance (including seafood working group and seafood investor engagement group), contributing to briefing documents, or training materials. 3. To engage and expand the community of practice / membership and help facilitate members’ role in undertaking outreach to the wider financial sector to promote sustainable blue economy financing (including e.g. reviewing incoming applications to join, facilitating peer exchanges, responding to requests on collaboration). 4. To monitor the application of the Initiative’s disclosure framework for implementation of the Principles and actions by members of the community of practice under the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative, in order to report on progress and impact of the Blue Economy Finance Initiative/Principles and sharing of lessons learned. This also includes work on trying to improve and further align the reporting framework for signatories with TNFD frameworks and alongside the development of a target-setting methodology for signatories of the SBE Finance Principles. 5. To support work on convening implementation working groups with members, collating case studies as appropriate, and supporting the team and wider membership in a target-setting exercise as needed. This also includes supporting work to align the SBE work with other internal UNEP FI and PRI workstreams, such as PRB, PSI, pollution and food systems. 6. To co-maintain resources site of the Initiative’s website (e.g. adding relevant new reports, co-creating content with members). 7. Provide general support for the RRT as appropriate 8. Backstopping the Associate Programme Lead Nature, as needed. Specific tasks and responsibilities: As Consultant for the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative the consultant would support engagement of the community of practice alongside the wider financial sector, and outputs of the initiative. Specifically, the consultant would be responsible for: • Managing the team on community engagement of the members and signatories of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles, e.g. onboarding new members, writing newsletters, organising and running webinars or other events. • Raising awareness of “blue finance” to increase the impact of the Principles and the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative across the financial sector, e.g. sharing expertise from the community of practice to support further adoption of the Principles via outputs such as briefings and blog posts on relevant topics. • Cultivating existing signatories as a part of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance initiative and mobilise action on blue economy finance globally across the investment, insurance and banking communities and key stakeholders, e.g. via organising membership meetings, workshops or interviews / podcasts. This includes taking the lead on overseeing reporting cycles for Signatories and improving and updating the reporting framework alongside the target-setting methodology development taking place. • Supporting the development of knowledge products and practical resources to support implementation as a community of practice of interested financial institutions globally, which will encompass and use the Principles as a guiding framework to accelerate the role of sustainable finance in the blue economy, e.g. support on the development of financial instruments’ guidance where relevant, contributing to collaborative workstream relating to seafood finance (including seafood working group and seafood investor engagement group), contributing to briefing documents, or training materials. • Collect, curate, share and leverage existing knowledge materials and showcase thought leadership. • Provide general support for the RRT as appropriate • Backstopping the Associate Programme Lead Nature, as needed. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of Head of UNEP FI and report directly to UNEP FI’s Nature Lead.
Qualifications/special skills
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, environment, ocean-based science, sustainability, business, marine economy-related development or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional Experience: A minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible work experience in the area of sustainable finance. Experience working in/with banks and /or insurers and/or investors is desired as well as experience working in international contexts. The candidate should have successfully coordinated and supported complex and, ideally, multi-stakeholder, projects. Previous work experience in the UN system is an advantage. Experience working on communications and events is highly desirable.
Additional Information
Skills & Knowledge: 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 outputs as well as strong analytical and conceptual skills. Expertise in finance, biodiversity, marine ecosystems and ocean issues is highly desirable. An understanding of the current challenges and opportunities facing the blue economy is a plus. Content creation/writing skills are highly desirable, as is experience in the organisation and successful execution of in-person and virtual events, particularly catering to a finance audience. The consultant should have the ability to coordinate and support stakeholder relationships and drive collaboration. An ability to build good working relationships at all levels is desirable. An interest in tracking relevant external developments and developing innovative solutions through collaboration is a plus.
