Result of Service

UNEP FI requires the Consultant for Latin America and the Caribbean to work in tandem with the Regional Coordination team, subject matter experts, key stakeholders, and UNEP FI Signatories to: • Provide general support to the Regional Coordinator with the overall UNEP FI portfolio of activities in the LAC region, including circular economy and pollution and in the context of the COP16 and the COP30. • Support the Regional Coordination team with the implementation of the circular economy project under development in selected jurisdictions and particularly support with the engagement and participation of financial institutions in the expected activities and capacity building programs; identifying best practices and proposing activities to share learnings and scale up the project to other jurisdictions. • Support the Regional Coordination team by ensuring relevant and regular engagements and communication with other key stakeholder including banking and insurance associations, financial institutions (PRB and PSI members and non-members), other UN agencies, etc. to raise awareness, and propose activities to build capacity on circular economy and related issues within the financial community. • Produce and share regular analysis and mappings of developments in the LAC region affecting the banking and insurance sectors and identify opportunities for UNEP FI to advocate for the development of new investment and financing opportunities in circular economy, and other related issues. • Support with the participation of UNEP FI in the G20, the COP 16 on Biodiversity, the COP 30 and other relevant events taking place in the region, to share the learnings of the projects on circular economy under development. • Support with the preparation of meeting materials, analytical minutes, reports, and others as needed. • Support with the implementation of the UNEP FI global programme and regional workplan.

Work Location

Latin America and the Caribbean; home based with option to work remotely

Expected duration

8 months

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) works with its network of more than 450 banks, insurers, and investors to help shape the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global norms and contributing to changing the financial system. 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. UNEP FI supports the development and implementation of frameworks including the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), now committed to by more than 310 banks collectively holding USD 89 trillion in assets, representing almost half of global banking assets, and the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), established 2012 by UNEP FI and today applied by one-quarter of the world’s insurers (25% of world premium). Moreover, UNEP FI has defined key themes where it works with financial institutions to accelerate the transition to a just and low-carbon economy. One of the themes is pollution and circular economy. Pollution has a pervasive impact on people and planet. One of the root causes of pollution – closely related to climate change and biodiversity loss as well – is the unsustainable use of natural resources in our production and consumption models. With natural resource shortages and pollution ranked among the most severe risks we will face over the next decade, collective action to address pollution is urgently needed. The transition to a more resource-efficient and circular economy not only leads to cost savings and environmental resilience, but also enhanced social equity and well-being through new jobs, the reduction of resource inequality and sustainable consumption patterns. Transitioning to a circular economy is a priority for our planet and health and will contribute to achieving society’s objectives as set in international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Global Framework on Chemicals. UNEP FI’s work on pollution and the circular economy engages finance practitioners and representatives and experts to provide research, raise awareness, and build capacity within the financial community. Within its broader scope, UNEP FI has committed to reinforce its regional work to drive engagement with policymakers and FIs and build institutional capacity. UNEP FI's activities in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region contribute to expand the regional sustainable finance market with the aim to reinforce the sustainability strategies and commitments of financial institutions and attract private capital towards environmentally sustainable investments. Working in the LAC region provides a unique opportunity for UNEP FI’s Team to consolidate its position as a leading advocate for sustainable finance in the region. UNEP FI needs a junior consultant who will support the UNEP FI Regional Coordination team in the implementation of different projects, including a Circular Economy project under development in four (4) countries of the region. Equally, the consultant will support strategic activities considering that several international events will be taken place in the region in the coming months, including the COP16 on Biodiversity (Colombia) and the COP30 in Brazil, and support the regional coordination team in finding ways to scale up and further develop social and environmental initiatives for financial institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Objectives: The LAC consultant will work in tandem with subject matter experts, key stakeholders, and Signatories to deliver: • Provide general support to the Regional Coordinator with the UNEP FI portfolio of activities in circular economy in the LAC region. • Support bilateral and collective engagement and maintain appropriate communication channels with the banks and other key stakeholders participating in the circular economy project and other related activities. • Regularly map and share learnings and key experiences and practices on circular economy existing in the LAC region, coming up from the project on selected jurisdictions and other relevant sources of information. • Produce and organize all documentation, including meeting materials, analytical minutes of meetings as relevant and keep track of deliverables related to the project. • Ensure internal UNEP FI communications regarding the circular economy project and related activities. • Support the Regional Coordination team with the preparations of UNEP FI’s participation in the COP16 aimed at sharing the learnings from the work done on circular economy and related issues and vis a vis the COP30 as well as the next LAC Regional Roundtable that will take place in 2025. • Support with the design of a strategy to build capacity and scale up work on circular economy in the LAC region by leveraging existing knowledge from the project under development in selected jurisdictions; learnings from the participation in the COP 16 and the capabilities of relevant UNEP FI’s strategic partners. • Prepare reporting materials: evaluations of strengths and weaknesses and insights for planning 2025. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will work directly with UNEP FI regional team to perform the following tasks: • Provide general support to the Regional Coordinator with the UNEP FI portfolio of activities in circular economy in the LAC region. • Support bilateral and collective engagement and maintain appropriate communication channels with the banks and other key stakeholders participating in the circular economy project and other related activities. • Regularly map and share learnings and key experiences and practices on circular economy existing in the LAC region, coming up from the project on selected jurisdictions and other relevant sources of information. • Produce and organize all documentation, including meeting materials, analytical minutes of meetings as relevant and keep track of deliverables related to the project. • Ensure internal UNEP FI communications regarding the circular economy project and related activities. • Support the Regional Coordination team with the preparations of UNEP FI’s participation in the COP16 aimed at sharing the learnings from the work done on circular economy and related issues and vis a vis the COP30 as well as the next LAC Regional Roundtable that will take place in 2025. • Support with the design of a strategy to build capacity and scale up work on circular economy in the LAC region by leveraging existing knowledge from the project under development in selected jurisdictions; learnings from the participation in the COP 16 and the capabilities of relevant UNEP FI’s strategic partners. • Prepare reporting materials: evaluations of strengths and weaknesses and insights for planning 2025. Outputs and Deliverables: ● Provide general support to the LAC Regional Coordinator with the coordination of the overall UNEP FI portfolio of activities in the LAC region. • Strategy and work plan to ensure UNEP FI’s participation in the COP16 aimed at sharing the learnings from the work done on circular economy and related issues and vis a vis the COP30 as well as the next LAC Regional Roundtable that will take place in 2025. ● Strategy to improve awareness and strengthen capacity of PRB members on circular economy based on learnings of the project and to scale up efforts on circular economy in LAC. ● Written feedback of the meetings and relevant stakeholder engagements. ● Communications material for engagement sessions with PRB members, including general support for communications, webinars, events etc. related to the LAC activities. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI, and report directly to Regional Coordination and Membership Manager.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Master’s degree in the following areas: law, economics, social sciences, business administration, marketing/communications, international relations, administration, or finance studies. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 5 years of relevant experience. Professional Experience: At least three (3) years of professional experience in sustainable development, circular economy, and project management with experience in supporting the intersection between sustainable development and finance.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Spanish and/or Portuguese are an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: ●Familiarity with the sustainability agenda for the financial services sector in the region, including emerging trends and best practices on circular economy and other related themes. ●Previous working experience in the LAC region in the financial system, sustainability and/or circular economy. ●Familiarity with UNEP FI’s work and initiatives, tools and frameworks including the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB). ●Skills and ability to engage with a variety of stakeholders including NGOs, international and domestic organizations, and authorities to foster partnerships. ●Experience in project planning and management. ●Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience of writing in a concise, credible, and persuasive manner. ●Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills. ●A collaborative and consultative approach. The consultant should have the ability to establish and maintain good working relations in a multicultural and geographically dispersed team working across functions. A hands-on, pragmatic approach is desirable. ●Motivated and driven by the purpose the team/organization is working towards and the impacts they are trying to achieve.

No Fee

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.