Consultant, Sustainable Infrastructure for Business: adapted principles and engagement strategy

The activities related to this consultancy will support UNEP’s ongoing efforts to implement UNEA Resolution 4/5 on Sustainable Infrastructure and contribute to Outputs 2 and 3 of the UNEP Programme of Work (PoW) project 612.4 “Supporting Inclusive Green Economy Approaches to Sustainable Development”.

Remote

15 December 2021 to 31 March 2021

Background

Since 2008, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has played a catalytic role in developing and applying key global knowledge products to support countries in their transition to a green and socially inclusive economy. Infrastructure is inextricably linked to the threefold aspects of green and socially inclusive economy transitions and is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The socio-economic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without trillions of dollars of infrastructure investment, and if this infrastructure development is unsustainable, it will undermine the achievement of the environmental SDGs. Incorporating environmental, social, and economic sustainability into infrastructure planning and development is therefore a critical component of the 2030 Agenda. This was recognized by Members States at the 4th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), where they passed a resolution on sustainable infrastructure which highlighted its importance to sustainable development and pointed to the need for more integrated approaches to the planning and development of sustainable infrastructure.

In 2018, UNEP established the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) as a platform to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development. Integrated approaches recognize the centrality of infrastructure to the 2030 Agenda, and can help deliver optimal environmental, social, and economic outcomes of infrastructure development by considering the complex interlinkages between different infrastructure systems, sectors, phases, governance structures, and aspects of sustainability. In collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, the SIP provides knowledge, facilitates international collaboration, and supports capacity-building at the country-level to foster systems-level approaches, which more fully exploit the complex interlinkages between infrastructure and the SDGs.

In consultation with UN Member States, the SIP has produced the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure (the Principles), which provide guidance for policymakers and other stakeholders to incorporate sustainability into infrastructure planning and development through the application of needs-based, systems-level, integrated approaches. However, in addition to the public sector, businesses and other private sector actors must be engaged to enable the shift to more sustainable infrastructure investments, as a driver of the overall green economy transition. In support of this, UNEP is exploring the potential to adapt the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure for a business audience, helping to make the business case for investments in sustainable infrastructure and driving private finance in that direction.

Purpose

UNEP is seeking the services of an external expert to conduct a scoping of existing guidance on integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure that is targeted to the business sector, identify gaps that the adapted Principles can fill, identify key stakeholders from across the business sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and provide recommendations on a stakeholder consultation process.

Specific tasks and responsibilities per outputs:

1) Research and draft for UNEP’s review a report providing recommendations on a process for adapting the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure for a business audience. This Report will include two key components:
a) A section that describes the conclusions gleaned from the scoping work (which will include research of current business-sustainable infrastructure programs, partnerships, and literature) and provides recommendations on how adapting the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure for a business audience could help to fill existing gaps;
b) A section identifies key stakeholders from the business sector, including Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and proposes a process for consulting relevant stakeholder groups within the business sector.
2) Revise the report based on feedback received from UNEP and provide a final copy of the report.

Academic Qualifications: Postgraduate or other advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in economics, law, international development, business administration, public policy, or a related area.
Experience: More than 5 years of work experience related to sustainable development, with expertise in the areas of environmental sustainability and social inclusion, sustainable infrastructure, green economy, private sector engagement, or similar. Experience in conducting independent research and developing high-quality knowledge products for international audiences. Prior experience working with the business community, finance, investment, multilateral development banks, and/or international organizations is essential.
Language: Demonstrated excellent writing skills in English.

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.