The consultant will be responsible for:
• overseeing and providing strategic guidance to ensure effective coordination and delivery of Banking Board, Net-Zero Banking Alliance Steering Group and CSAB processes, including virtual and physical engagements between these governance bodies, and engagement between the CSAB and the community of PRB signatories.
• overseeing and providing strategic guidance to deliver the PRB 2030 steps and milestones, which will guide PRB signatories implementation of the framework up to 2030
• ensuring the effective delivery of support to PRB signatories through the individual feedback and support meetings, and programmes that strengthen implementation by signatory banks of their PRB commitments, including working groups, capacity building activities, and the PRB Academy
• ensuring engagement and coordination with internal stakeholders, including thematic leads and regional coordinators to deliver effective and appropriate implementation support to PRB signatories.
• engagement with key stakeholders and participation in global and regional outreach and knowledge sharing sessions to create further awareness of the PRB and grow its membership.
• overseeing internal and external banking related communications in close coordination with the UNEP FI Communications Lead
Working remotely
Expected duration12 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 carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.
UNEP FI’s Banking Team is responsible for the initiative’s work with its over 300 member banks in more than 70 countries around the world. This includes overseeing and supporting the implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking.
About the Principles for Responsible Banking:
On 22nd September 2019, UNEP FI member banks representing USD 47 trillion and with that over a third of the global banking industry officially signed and launched the Principles for Responsible Banking together with UN Secretary General Guterres. The Principles for Responsible Banking guide the change towards a new, sustainable global banking industry that takes on a key role in helping society to achieve its goals for a sustainable future. With these Principles, banks commit to strategically align their business with and scale up their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate. The Principles are supported by a strong implementation framework that defines clear accountabilities and requires each bank to set, publish and work towards ambitious targets and report publicly on their positive and negative impacts and progress in implementing their commitments. Banks that are not in line with their commitments can be removed from the list of signatories.
In order to ensure effective implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking and to maintain their legitimacy and credibility to external stakeholders, a consultant is needed to oversee the governance structures, implementation working groups and key accountability mechanisms within the PRB framework. The consultant will be responsible for the overall management and engagement of PRB governance bodies, including the Banking Board and Civil Society Advisory Body, and oversight over NZBA governance; ensuring effective engagement between the CSAB and the community of PRB signatories; overseeing engagement with the community of UNEP FI member banks and public consultation with regard to the PRB 2030 process, and delivery of the framework milestones for the period leading up to 2030; outreach and engagement to create further awareness of the PRB and grow its membership; the effective delivery of the individual feedback and support meetings to PRB signatories; and oversight of delivery of implementation support to signatory banks in key focus areas.
Objectives and expectations: The consultant has oversight and responsibility over the PRB governance structures, implementation working groups and key accountability mechanisms within the PRB framework. The consultant will be responsible for overseeing the management and engagement of PRB governance bodies, including the Banking Board, NZBA Steering Group, and Civil Society Advisory Body; ensuring effective engagement between the CSAB and the community of PRB signatories; overseeing engagement with the community of UNEP FI member banks and public consultation with regard to the PRB 2030 process, and delivery of the next steps and milestones of the implementation journey up to 2030; outreach and engagement to create further awareness of the PRB and grow its membership; the effective delivery of the individual feedback and support meetings to PRB signatories; oversight of delivery of implementation support to signatory banks in key focus areas.
Outputs:
• Oversee and ensure the effective delivery of support to PRB signatories through the Banking work programme, including the regional support programme and individual feedback and support meetings.
• Oversee the delivery of the PRB 2030 process, associated documents and launch.
• Ensure effective communication and planning across UNEP FI teams and activities to deliver effective support to signatories.
• Oversee and support the work of the Banking Board, NZBA Steering Group and CSAB on key matters and ensure they are well coordinated, aware of and provide inputs into PRB processes and outputs.
• Oversee banking communications with members and external stakeholders.
• Oversee and ensure the integrity of the membership database.
• Engage with key stakeholders and participate in global and regional outreach and knowledge sharing sessions to create further awareness of the PRB and grow its membership, including UNEP FI’s regional roundtables.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
1st deliverable –Deliver the Banking work programme for 2024 in coordination with UNEP FI Thematic Leads and Regional Coordinators
2nd deliverable –Delivery of plan for PRB 2030 membership consultation.
3rd deliverable –Oversight of the membership consultation for the PRB 2030 process, and support membership engagement to respond to feedback from members
4th deliverable –Deliver global webinar to Banking membership detailing workplan and working groups to sign up to. Oversight of the membership consultation for the PRB 2030 process, and support membership engagement to respond to feedback from members
5th deliverable –Oversee the delivery of the Banking work programme for 2024, including regional programmes for context specific support. Oversight of consultation process of the PRB 2030 process for PRB signatories
6th deliverable –Oversee the planning, and agree on the plan and roll out of the EGM and subsequent voting process with regard to the PRB 2030. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
7th deliverable –Review membership feedback and voting with regard to the PRB 2030 process, and determine next steps. A list of recommendations for adoption in order to strengthen the support provided to PRB signatories, in line with the feedback and support process. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
8th deliverable –Review membership feedback and voting with regard to the PRB 2030 process, and determine next steps. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
9th deliverable –Oversee planning for the launch of the PRB 2030 process steps and milestones. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
10th deliverable –Oversee planning for the launch of the PRB 2030 process steps and milestones. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
11th deliverable –Oversee roll-out of the launch of the PRB 2030 process steps and milestones, including the launch event, communications and bank participation. A list of recommendations for adoption in order to strengthen the support provided to PRB signatories, in line with the feedback and support process. Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme.
12th deliverable –Oversee the roll-out of the Banking work programme. Deliver the draft Banking work programme for 2025 in coordination with UNEP FI Thematic Leads and Regional Coordinators.
The consultant will report to the Head of UNEP Finance Initiative, who is the overall supervisor, and report directly to the Banking Team Head.
Education: A master’s degree in the following areas: environmental studies, economics, international relations, public policy, or finance studies. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 9 years of relevant experience.
Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience in banking, and at least 4 years in sustainable finance. Established track record of working with diverse groups of banks on a global scale in sustainable finance, and experience in managing multi-stakeholder projects. Experience engaging with a broad range of stakeholders including policy makers, regulators, civil society organizations. Have a good grasp of the financial system and the banking business and are familiar with key UN frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.
Additional InformationSpecial Skill & Knowledge: The role is crucial for the legitimacy and credibility of the principles, their signatories and ultimately UNEP FI. Consequently, the successful applicant must have demonstrated integrity throughout their career. Able to quickly understand, synthesize and analyze substantial amounts of information. They must be reliable and deliver consistently high quality within agreed timeframes. Able to follow through on commitments towards others, especially towards their constituency and clients. Quickly gain and then maintain people’s trust. The must be a team-player, have interest in and derive joy from collaborating with others. As such, able to share knowledge and expertise and helping more junior colleagues develop. Motivated and driven by the purpose of the team/organization is working towards and the impacts we are trying to achieve.
No FeeTHE 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.