UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Copy Editor for Reports on Climate Change

Result of Service

Through these services the Initiative will be able to engage a broad range of financial institutions, including commercial banks, asset managers, insurers, and multi-lateral development banks and agencies in implementing global finance sector principles to catalyze integration of sustainability into financial market practice. The frameworks UNEP FI is supporting implementation include Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) now committed to by more than 210 banks collectively holding USD 53 trillion in assets, or one third of the global banking sector, 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).

The services will also help promote sustainability into all aspects of the financial sector’s operations and services. Finally, the services will help the Initiative to broaden its outreach both within UNEP / UN and external to banks, insurers and investors, governments, regulators, private sector, and multi-stakeholders, including supporting institutions.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

9 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 450 banks, insurers and investors. For over 28 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.

UNEP FI requires a copy editor to support the conclusion of the current phase of work by reviewing and editing the draft reports from Phase III of the TCFD programme and reports associated with the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance ahead of their publication.

The consultant will:

• Draft selected sections of the various reports mentioned above
• Clearly edit in English for grammar, punctuation, tone, coherence/’flow’, conciseness and overall readability
• Final copy-edit of the reports
• Draft brief report summaries for the UNEP FI website

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 over 450 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.

As part of its 2021 work programme on climate change and building on the outcomes of its first two TCFD pilots in banking, UNEP FI conducted a Phase 3 of this work (Phase 2 for investors) and has to that effect engaged at least 45 commercial and development banks as well as institutional investors.

Building from the methodologies, and corresponding insights and recommendations, published by UNEP FI & Partners in 2018 and 2020, Phase 3 of UNEP FI’s work on TCFD adoption had the following objectives:

• Objective area 1: Briefing and training - in depth - UNEP FI member banks that are new to UNEP FI’s TCFD work on the various methodologies developed – and the insights won - in Phases 1 and 2

• Objective area 2: Further developing and enhancing – in partnership with relevant expert stakeholders - a number of the various elements within the ‘toolkit’ that banks currently have at their disposal to carry out forward-looking risk and opportunity assessments, potentially including: i) climate-related scenarios, ii) client data, iii) modelling approaches, iv) legal guidance, etc.

• Objective area 3: Strengthening and institutionalizing links and dialogue - and synchronizing agendas - with relevant platforms, processes, and efforts, particularly those involving financial regulatory organisations (e.g. the Network for Greening the Financial System – NGFS, the EU Action Plan), client industry associations, the proceedings of the TCFD itself, and investor efforts (through the Principles for Responsible Investment, or UNEP FI’s own investor piloting of the TCFD)

• Objective area 4: Publication of guidance for financial sector actors

Through the work in the first three areas, UNEP FI and its participating financial institutions have worked to develop guidance on good practices around climate scenario analysis, climate risk management, and climate risk disclosure. This guidance is formalized through the final reports that the programme produces and shares with those in the financial sector.

UNEP FI requires a copy editor to support the conclusion of the current phase of work by reviewing and editing the draft reports from Phase III of the TCFD programme and reports associated with the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance ahead of their publication.

Outputs and Deliverables:

The copy editor will:

• Draft selected sections of the various reports mentioned above
• Clearly edit in English for grammar, punctuation, tone, coherence/’flow’, conciseness and overall readability
• Final copy-edit of the reports
• Draft brief report summaries for the UNEP FI website

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI, and report directly to the Programme Officer Climate Change. The final deliverables shall also be approved by the Head of UNEP FI

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Degree in communications, writing, English, economics, environment, finance, business administration and management. Additional academic background in other, non-finance specific fields is relevant.

Skills & Knowledge: Excellent oral and written communications skills in English. The consultant should have a proven track record supporting international programmes involving different stakeholder types, particularly financial organisations, and with a particular focus on sustainable finance and climate risks. 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.

Professional Experience: At least five year’s working experience in editing, writing or communications.

Languages

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

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.