UNEP FINANCE INITIATIVE (UNEP FI) – REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN

仕事内容

Result of Service

Through these services the Initiative will be able to engage a broad range of financial institutions, including commercial banks, 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 300 banks collectively holding USD 89 trillion in assets, or almost half 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 consultant will contribute with the sustainable finance hub with members in Latin America & the Caribbean. The outcomes of services will be to strengthen the UNEP FI Latin American and Caribbean regional network, and help UNEP FI achieve its goals as set in its UNEP project documents and Principles for Responsible Banking and Principles for Sustainable Insurance. This will help member institutions to integrate sustainability into operations.

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

The consultant will also support UNEP and UNEP FI’s projects including Building the capacity of financial institutions to set and deliver on ambitious targeted outcomes for mobilizing private investment in the SDGs, focusing on implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking and the development of insurance Sustainable Development Goals (iSDGs) in LAC.

Work Location

Home Based or Panama office – Latin America

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 450 banks, insurers, and investors. For 30 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 members in Latin America & the Caribbean need support to implement the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), and thematic topics including climate change, nature and policy & regulatory engagement require support for outreach, awareness raising and engagement in LAC.

UNEP FI requires a consultant to work with Latin America & the Caribbean network. The role involves relationship management with financial institutions, supporting PRB and PSI implementation, communications, membership development, outreach for industry, thematic and project- related activities, event management and coordination with UNEP FI’s Secretariat to achieve UNEP FI’s mission to accelerate the development of financial institutions that integrate sustainability and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Overall Objectives

• Membership retention and expand signatories to the Principles for Responsible Banking, Net Zero Banking Alliance and Principles for Sustainable Insurance.
• Expand and engage UNEP FI network of supporting institutions.
• Support implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking and Principles for Sustainable Insurance supported through translated materials, communications, webinars, capacity building, technical assistance, peer to peer exchange and workshops.
• Support regional awareness raising and engagement on regional priorities of global work programme and implementation of donor-funded activities and projects
• Support capacity building inc, training uptake in the region.
• Support regional communications for LAC.
• Align with UN sustainable finance activities in the region.
  

Output Expectations

• List maintained of potential signatories and key stakeholders to engage, focusing on priority countries.
• Workshops and webinars for awareness raising and capacity building to support the PRB implementation, focusing on impact analysis and setting and implementing targets under the PRB
• Workshops and webinars for awareness raising and capacity building to support the PSI implementation as well as related activities (V20, TCFD for insurers)
• Research into linkages between the PRB and regional regulatory frameworks.
• Relationship management and regional support in the region strengthened through implementation of work plan for region.
• Knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning undertaken through events, workshops, meetings, technical assistance around regional priorities and good practice.
• Meetings/events including agenda, background documents drafted and, minutes and list of participants, in co-ordination with Meeting Chair are outputs of the meetings.
• Support fundraising/sponsorship and implementation of donor-funded activities and projects.
• Organization of the Regional Roundtable in 2023 (hybrid event).
• UNEP FI’s regional web page maintained and regularly updated.
  

Tasks

• Activity 1: Maintain contact information of signatories and supporting institutions, and potential signatories and key stakeholders.
• Activity 2: Engage financial institutions to expand membership and signatories to the Principles for Responsible Banking, Net Zero Banking Alliance, Principles for Sustainable Insurance.
• Activity 3: Support the implementation of a series of workshops, training, webinars, technical assistance and peer to peer exchange to help banks and insurance companies to develop technical knowledge of best practice for PRB and PSI implementation.
• Activity 4: Coordination of materials translations, materials for workshops, technical assistance and peer exchanges and briefing paper to disseminate results and report on outcomes.
• Activity 5: Identify and engage key stakeholders in priority countries, focusing on LDCs, SIDs and V20 countries, to expand awareness raising and capacity building programme. Undertake research into linkages between the PSI, PRB and regional regulatory frameworks.
• Activity 6: Disseminate results of the research on financing a circular economy at LAC by convening key stakeholders and helping to disseminate results and promote pilots in the region
• Activity 8. Support implementation and monitoring for donor-funded projects, including stakeholder engagement and inputs for donor reporting: (TCFD for Insurances – Brazil and LAC; Center of Climate Risks for Financial Regulators and Supervisors, Taxonomy for LAC)
• Activity 9: Support engagement of financial institutions on different thematics: climate, nature, blue economy, land use, social issues, circular economy and pollution.
• Activity 10: Support progress monitoring, communications and administrative processes, such as PRB reporting, invoice payments and ad hoc requests from the Secretariat.
• Activity 11: Coordinate with UNEP colleagues and UNEP FI partners in LAC/NA and identify and support opportunities for cooperation.
• Activity 12: Support communications in LAC/NA including updating UNEP FI’s regional web page on sustainable finance market intelligence and update regional members’ profiles on UNEP FI website.
• Activity 13: Organize and promote the Regional Roundtable in 2023 (hybrid event)
• Activity 14: Support UNEP FI governance processes and engage Regional Advisory Group on work plan and Regional Roundtable.
• Activity 15: Inform UNEP FI Secretariat of regional challenges, priorities and opportunities.
  

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, UNEP FI. The consultant will with closely with colleagues in LAC, the regional coordination team, industry and thematic teams and communications and events colleagues.

Qualifications/special Skills

Academic background – Master’s degree in communications, marketing, business, sustainability or environment, finance, international relations, business administration or related fields. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 7 years of relevant experience.

Experience – At least 5 years of experience in international organisations, the financial services sector, private sector or NGOs supporting the intersection between sustainable development and finance. Desirable: Experience in client-facing role in financial services of sustainability-related consulting.

Skills & knowledge – Proven relationship management skills, knowledge in the field of sustainable finance; knowledge/experience of the banking, insurance and/or investment industries in Latin America & the Caribbean; ability to support capacity building including voluntary standards in sustainable finance and disclosure; ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a diplomatic, organised and timely manner; proven influencing skills; excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to organise and deliver written updates, events, management desirable conference calls and webinars; ability to be proactive and work independently. Project management skills desirable.

Languages

Languages – English is the working language of UNEP FI. Fluency in Spanish for the position in Latin America & the Caribbean. Portuguese desirable. 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.