Programme Officer - Asia Pacific Regional Task Force

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic public-private partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with approximately 220 financial institutions, which are signatories to the UNEP FI Statements of Environmental Commitment, and a range of partners and organisations, to develop and promote linkages between the environment, sustainability and financial performance. Through its working groups and regional activities, comprehensive work programme, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realize the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution strategies and operations.

The consultant will assist the implementation of the activities of the three Commissions and the various Regions especially with the Asia Pacific region. Consultant will work with UNEP FI members, looking after their requirements and collecting their financial contributions. 

In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings and approved by UNEP, and under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer for the Industry Commissions and the Regions and the overall direction of the Head of UNEP FI, the Consultant will carry out the following project tasks for UNEP FI.

These responsibilities include:

• Assist in the coordination of activities of the Industry Commissions and the Regions. Mobilise and coordinate members’ ideas/requests. Link the interests in the Regions to working group and commission activities and coordinate members in the Regions to participate in such activities.
• Assist the members’ focal point. Identify and react to the individual needs of each member.
• Support the management of regular and close communications with UNEP FI’s members, commissions and regional task forces via e-mails, conference calls, and in-person meetings; maintain the commissions’ and regions’ respective websites.
• Assist and support the Communications Team to coordinate awareness raising and outreach activities of the Industry Commissions and Regions.

The consultant will contribute, where appropriate and necessary, to other projects and activities of the Unit in support of the Secretariat’s mandate such as: The UNEP FI Regional Meeting and UNEP FI finance training activities. The Consultant will:

• Support ROAP in integrating sustainable finance agenda in respective workstreams.
• Assist with the Asia Pacific Task Force membership survey on regional coordination gaps and needs.
• Help to update regional strategy based on survey inputs and previous regional strategy/workplan.
• Support outreach and promotion efforts for the Driving Positive Impact in Banking Manifesto, Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative, Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, Fiduciary Duty III
• Assist the Japanese and Korean local coordinators on respective workplan implementation.
• Provide information needs for exploratory work of Natural Capital Declaration on climate change impacts on corporate loans  in China.
• Continue to assist with the liaising with Shanghai Finance University on a potential SSFA Legal agreement.
• Assist with UNEP FI inputs to PAGE Mongolia workplan for 2016.
• Assist with the revision of regional strategy and disseminate for validation and finalization.
• Support outreach and promotion efforts for the Driving Positive Impact in Banking Manifesto, Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative, Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, Fiduciary Duty III.
• Assist with the coordination of UNEP FI inputs to PAGE Mongolia workplan for 2016.

Deliverable/Outputs

• Feedback from ATPF members received on improving regional coordination work. Regional strategy prepared and disseminated.
• Outreach and promotion efforts for the Driving Positive Impact in Banking Manifesto, Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative, Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, Fiduciary Duty III supported.
• Japan and Korea local workplans coordinated.
• SSFA with Shanghai Finance University coordinated.
• UNEP FI inputs to PAGE Mongolia workplan for 2016 coordinated.
• Support for Global Roundtable in Dubai mobilized, Global Roundtable in Dubai organization and communication needs supported.
• Integration of sustainable finance agenda in ROAP workstreams supported.
• Workprogramme for the Asia Pacific Regional Task Force is successfully carried out and implemented.
• Conference calls, Regional Meetings and Training Workshops with Asia Pacific members and discussion groups to advance the global UNEP FI work plan are undertaken and carried out successfully. 
• Successfully worked with the Communications Team to coordinate awareness raising and outreach activities in the Region.
• Documents, including minutes from conference calls, meeting and planning sessions and updated member lists, are completed in a timely manner.
• UNEP FI Asia Pacific Regional Task Force Website updated.
• In-person visits and phone calls to members and stakeholders in the region with the engagement documented.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Monthly report on activities related to implementation of strategy for work programme delivery;
• Financial institutions mobilized to support work on natural capital and resource efficiency goals,  and network expanded;
• Establishing key contacts in government agencies and other strategic national or regional institutions which capacity to level the playing field of financial sector on sustainability issues;
• Establishing key partnerships in the region.

• Minimum 3 years of programme management experience in international organisations or NGOs or work experience in the financial services sector. 
• Experience working on public-private sector partnerships, specifically in the sustainable finance field or in related field such as CSR is desirable.

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

APPLICANTS SHOULD INCLUDE A COVER LETTER WITH THEIR SUBMISSION.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.