UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Climate Adaptation & Resilience (A&R) Project Manager
Remote | Geneva
- Organization: UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme
- Location: Remote | Geneva
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
-
Occupational Groups:
- Banking and Finance
- Environment
- Meteorology, Geology and Geography
- Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
- Climate Change
- Project and Programme Management
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: Closed
Result of Service
The consultant will contribute to the management and delivery of UNEP FI’s climate adaptation and resilience programmes, supporting our partners including: - Development finance institution (DFI) partners of the Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC) - Banks taking part in the adaptation working group of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) - Stakeholders of the Community of Practice on Adaptation & Resilience Impact Metrics (CAIL project), including banks, investors, insurers, development finance institutions and policymakers, as well as real economy actors towards the end of the programme. Specifically, the consultant will manage: 1. The Climate Adaptation Innovation & Learning (CAIL) project, including: a. Convening and organising the Community of Practice, including the global, Latin America & Caribbean (LAC), sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Asia sub-groups. b. Managing the technical consultants, Cadlas, and reviewing material developed by Cadlas for the Community of Practice c. Organising in-person events across the three regions of LAC, SSA and Asia, as well as events with programme partners, UNIDO, Climate-KIC and GARI. d. Reporting periodically to Climate-KIC and UNIDO on project progress, including managing financial reporting inputs. e. Managing and contributing to communication opportunities including social media, blogs, events. 2. WS3 of the Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC) including: a. Convening members of the ARIC WS3 for workshops to develop the Resilience Challenge with a view to reaching agreement on key decision points by end March 2025 b. Co-developing the Resilience Challenge material for workshops with A&R team members. c. Organising and convening consultation with finance sector actors, including MDBs, investors and banks to provide feedback into the draft Resilience Challenge framework. d. Engaging with the Investment Mobilisation Collaboration Alliance (IMCA) and the Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA) with a view to piloting the Resilience Challenge with public and private investors. e. Organising communication opportunities including the launch of the Resilience Challenge at London Climate Action Week and COP30. The consultant will also support the development of the annual A&R strategy and workplan, as well as co-leading and/or supporting fund-raising in order to implement the A&R strategy in 2026 and beyond. UNEP FI aims to enhance in-house expertise as far as possible by recruiting experts to support the work of UNEP FI, with the assistance of third-party experts where relevant to develop guidance and tools for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), banks and other financial stakeholders where relevant including impact investors, insurers, asset managers, etc. The consultant will increasingly take ownership of the technical elements of the projects including reviewing technical expert input and developing technical products where necessary in support of the ARIC and GEF projects.
Work Location
Working remotely
Expected duration
10 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) 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. Since the publication of the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures in 2017, UNEP FI has been working with banks, investors and insurers to assess the potential risks from the physical impacts of climate change and to comply with non-financial reporting regulations incorporating climate risk, as well as responding to climate stress tests imposed by central banks and regulators. This position is intended to support the above three programmes, specifically in leading the implementation of: 1. The Capital Mobilisation workstream (WS3) of the Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC). 2. The Climate Adaptation Innovation & Learning (CAIL) project as well as supporting the development of the A&R team strategy and co-leading and/or contributing to fundraising for the A&R team. The consultant would also be expected to engage with initiatives across the finance sector that can enhance the quality and compatibility of UNEP FI’s work with its core stakeholders on climate adaptation and resilience. Objectives: Under the direct supervision of Remco Fischer, UNEP FI Climate Lead, working in close coordination with UNEP FI Climate Consultant, Paul Smith, the consultant will manage the following projects: 1. Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC) 2. GEF-funded Adaptation & Resilience (A&R) Knowledge Management Project As well as providing support to A&R team strategy and workplan development, fundraising and general A&R related engagement. Specific tasks and responsibilities: Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC) The consultant will manage the following tasks and deliverables for UNEP FI’s secretariat support to the Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC): • Develop the workplan for outreach and consultation on the Resilience Challenge – the key deliverable of the A&R Investors Collaborative workstream 3 (WS3). • Engage with ARIC members and organise February and March online workshops to support consensus-building on the Resilience Challenge criteria. • Plan and implement an external consultation exercise on the draft Resilience Challenge. • Engage with key external experts and stakeholders to consult on the draft criteria of the Resilience Challenge • Organise an in-person workshop to share feedback on the Resilience Challenge criteria in April 2025, preferably around the EDFI meeting for impact teams. • Engage with the Investment Mobilisation Collaboration Alliance (IMCA) and the Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA) platform to pilot the Resilience Challenge framework in an investment context. • Map and engage with other investment mobilisation platforms or climate finance accelerators as possible alternatives for piloting the Resilience Challenge. • Consolidate feedback from the external consultation process and update the Resilience Challenge framework accordingly. • Contribute to organisation of the London Climate Action Week event in June 2025, which will provide a soft launch of the beta Resilience Challenge in preparation for piloting and final launch at COP30. • Circulate beta Resilience Challenge for open consultation (tbc with project team). • Support to drafting of communications material including press releases, social media and contribute to the preparation of technical reports. Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) Adaptation working group • Support to the preparation of PRB meetings where they require input from CAIL or ARIC Resilience Challenge input to showcase broader A&R work on UNEP FI. Climate Adaptation Innovation & Learning (CAIL) project • Management of UNEP FI’s Community of Practice (CoP) funded knowledge management project, including a global sub-group and regional sub-groups covering sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Asia and Latina America & the Caribbean (LAC), to share learnings and good practices on private sector innovation and finance towards adaptation. • Organisation of online webinars and workshops, including convening fo participants and review of technical material prepared by Cadas. • Organisation of in-person meetings (at least two per region) to convene sub-group participants at in-region meetings. Review technical material and support drafting of meeting outcomes and circulate to participants • Organisation of events at global events including COP30 and UNEP FI Round Tables to share outputs and learnings from the Community of Practice. General A&R engagement • Co-lead the development of the annual A&R strategy and workplan, including outreach to internal UNEPFI teams to promote greater collaboration with regional, thematic and industry teams • Engage with third parties such as UNFCCC, Climate Champions, Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), the European Commission, Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) and others to ensure cooperation and engagement on climate adaptation finance initiatives relevant to the work of UNEP FI, including attending meetings and providing written input where necessary. • Mapping and identifying potential fundraising opportunities in support of the annual A&R strategy and workplan. • Leading or co-leading (depending on team resources and needs) the drafting of funding proposals where they broadly align with the team’s strategy and workplan. Outputs and Deliverables: • Organisation of up to 10 CAIL online sessions as required, including by conducting research, outreach, communications with third parties and setting up/running sessions. • Organisation and implementation of at least 6 in-person CAIL workshops, including supporting communications with participants and setting up/running sessions. • Organisation and implementation of at least 2 in-person CAIL events, including by conducting research, outreach, communications with third parties and setting up/running sessions. • Delivery of CAIL White Paper and Policy Brief • Delivery of periodic and final reports to CAIL project funders • Organisation and implementation of at least 2 in-person ARIC Resilience Challenge workshops, including supporting communications with participants and setting up/running sessions. • Organisation and implementation of at least 4 online ARIC Resilience Challenge workshops and consultation events, including by conducting research, outreach, communications with third parties and setting up/running sessions. • Drafting and launch of draft Resilience Challenge framework at London Climate Action Week • Organisation of piloting of Resilience Challenge framework through selected investment platform or accelerator. • Support to PRB sessions as required, where linkages to CAIL and ARIC Resilience Challenge work has been identified. • Support to drafting and publication of ARIC, GEF reports, blogs, and other communications as needed. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head UNEP FI. The consultant will report to the Programme Officer Climate Change, working in close coordination with UNEP FI’s Adaptation Lead.
Qualifications/special skills
Education: A first level university degree or equivalent in economics, finance, environmental studies, international relations, business administration, or related fields preferred. Professional Experience: At least 7 years of experience in the environmental non-profit sector, the financial services sector, commercial consulting, or conducting applied academic research on sustainable finance. This experience should be relevant for examining climate risks, climate policies, and the role of the financial sector in climate action.
Languages
Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.
Additional Information
Skills & Knowledge: The consultant(s) should have a proven track record in managing sustainable finance programmes involving different stakeholder types, including private financial institutions, development finance institutions and policymakers, with a particular focus on climate adaptation & resilience.
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.
This vacancy is now closed.