JOB DESCRIPTION

Result of Service

The Impact Centre is core to UNEP FI’s efforts to fulfil its mission to “identify, promote, and realise the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution operations”. By developing a common understanding of what constitutes positive impact finance and working with members, their clients and with public partiers on the development of new business and financing models the workstream is a central contribution to the mobilisation of mainstream finance for sustainability goals. The result of the Programme Manager’s services is that the Impact Centre is able to maintain and further develop its suite of Impact Management resources (in particular the Protocol and Tools), expand the scope of its Interoperability Solutions, and deliver effective implementation support for UNEP FI members.

Work Location

Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration

12 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 Industry and 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 32 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 Impact Centre is UNEP FI’s expertise and knowledge hub for impact management. It is responsible for UNEP FI’s impact management methodology, uniquely based on a holistic consideration of the three pillars of sustainable development, and embodied in the Impact Protocol, the Impact Radar, a suite of Impact Mappings, Tools and Interoperability Resources. It works with the industry, thematic, and regional teams of UNEP FI, as well as a range of external partners, to normalize holistic impact analysis and management in mainstream finance. More information available here: http://www.unepfi.org/positive-impact/ UNEP FI needs a Programme Manager to manage the content development of the Impact Centre. Objectives: The final result of the consultant’s work will be the successful delivery of the Impact Centre’s Impact Management Resources, Interoperability Solutions and Implementation Support services. Intermediate results

• Plan for iterating the IM Tools based on the revision of the Impact Radar & Sector Mapping
• Draft Interoperability Packages relating to GRI, OECD Due Diligence and, TNFD) Final result
• Final or pre-final version of the iterated IM Tools
• Final or pre-final versions of the Interoperability Packages relating to GRI, OECD Due Diligence and, TNFD)
• Impact management workshops and technical assistance delivered Delivery mode
• Tools & Interoperability solutions: Excel & PDF files
• Implementation support: Powerpoint presentations, recordings, inputs to the Member portal Specific tasks and responsibilities
• Lead the regular updates and maintenance of the UNEP FI Impact Protocol & UNEP FI Impact Analysis Tools for Banks, including the convening and management of working groups and communities of practice as relevant.
• Lead the work stream on interoperability solutions, to develop and deliver interoperability guidance and resources enabling members to leverage UNEP FI resources in relation to their regulatory obligations (e.g. ESRS) and/or participation in other sustainability initiatives and frameworks (e.g. UNGPs, OECD Due Diligence, GRI, TNFD).
• Promote, enable and coordinate the evolution and consolidation of UNEP FI’s other Impact Analysis Tools with relevant partners, namely the Investment Portfolio Tool and the Corporate Impact Analysis Tool (convening and management of working groups, mock-ups, coding and testing, technical specifications).
• Coordinate with and support the rest of the Impact Team (other consultants, and also interns) as regards the maintenance, updates and/or further developments to related impact resources, such as the Impact Mappings.
• Support the Banking Team with the design and delivery the implementation support programme for Principles of Responsible Banking (PRB) members as regards impact analysis & target-setting; webinars, workshops, info sessions and individual member inquiries (including in the context of the PRB member review process and the PRB Academy).
• Support the Impact Centre Head and coordinate with and rest of the Impact Team (other consultants, and also interns) as regards input and advisory to UNEP FI industry, thematic and regional teams as regards impact management related guidance and resources (e.g. thematic target-setting guidance).
• Work with UNEP FI’s partners and counterparties in the Impact Management Platform (IMP) to identify interoperability opportunities, as well as to support relevant R&D efforts undertaken by the Platform Partners.
• Support the Impact Centre Head with related tasks as appropriate: participate in UNEP FI Team meetings and activities as appropriate (e.g. events, external / internal meetings), supervise the work of the team Programme Associates as relevant. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Impact Centre Head, UNEP FI.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A master’s degree in finance, business administration, environmental / sustainable development studies, economics, international relations or related field/s is required. A bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree, provided the candidate has 7 years of experience. Professional Experience: At least five (5) years of work experience in sustainable business and/or sustainable finance, preferably involving technical and analytical responsibilities is required. At least three (3) years of work experience in stakeholder engagement and management is required. Experience of working in or with the United Nations is desirable.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge:

• A solid understanding of the sustainable business and sustainable finance agenda, including the main standards, norms, frameworks and players that currently define this field. Familiarity with the main approaches to impact measurement and management.
• Excellent analytical skills and capacity to understand complex / multi-facetted issues.
• Well organized, with proven ability to manage several processes simultaneously and able to plan processes and foresee steps required to achieve agreed outcomes. Reliable
• delivers consistently high quality within agreed timeframes.
• Quick learner and motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a highly collaborative and international environment. Good interpersonal skills.
• Advanced IT skills, especially in Excel, required.

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.