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 multilateral development banks and agencies in implementing global finance sector principles to catalyse integration of sustainability into financial market practice. The frameworks UNEP FI is supporting implementation include the 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 in 2012 by UNEP FI and today applied by one quarter of the world’s insurers (25% of world premium). The services will strengthen delivery of the Nature team’s project portfolio and policy engagement and help ensure that social and human rights considerations are integrated consistently across nature projects. 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. The consultant’s work will also contribute to upholding UN core values, ensuring that the human rights-based approach, the principle of leaving no one behind and gender equality and women’s empowerment are integrated throughout their work at UNEP FI.

Work Location

Working remotely / Home-based

Expected duration

2 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. UNEP’s work is firmly grounded in the UN core values, including the human rights-based approach, the commitment to leaving no one behind, and the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment across all activities. 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 500 banks, insurers, and investors. For over 34 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 needs a junior consultant to support the Nature team’s project delivery and policy engagement activities, including Revenues for Nature (R4N) and the team’s participation in major global policy events. This support is required to advance the Nature team’s growing agenda and is not currently available in sufficient capacity within the team. Objectives: The consultant will support the Nature team through the delivery of defined project and policy engagement outputs under the Revenues for Nature (R4N) project and UNEP FI's nature-related policy work. Performance will be measured against the timely completion of the following deliverables:

Research, drafting and coordination support provided for R4N activities, contributing to the delivery of at least one knowledge product and the delivery of one stakeholder engagement activity, such as a consultation process or partner roundtable within agreed project timelines.
A comprehensive record of stakeholder engagements related to at least one major global policy event (e.g. Post COP / BBNJ meetings) compiled and submitted within 10 working days of the event, covering 100% of relevant meetings, consultations and follow-up actions coordinated by the Nature team, including relevant social and human rights considerations.
A post-event outcome note produced within 15 working days of the event, summarising key decisions, stakeholder engagements, follow-up actions and implications for the financial sector.
Follow-up actions arising from policy engagement activities tracked and maintained through completion, with progress updates provided to the Nature team monthly.
All deliverables reviewed and aligned with UNEP and UN core values, including gender equality, human rights-based approaches and the principle of leaving no one behind, with compliance demonstrated across 100% of submitted outputs. The consultancy will be deemed successful upon delivery of the above outputs in accordance with agreed quality standards, timelines and reporting requirements. This support is required to advance the Nature team’s growing agenda and does not currently exist in sufficient capacity within the team. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will provide assistance across the following tasks in support of UNEP FI’s Nature team:
Support delivery of the Revenues for Nature (R4N) project, including research, drafting and review inputs to knowledge products, and coordination of consultations and partner engagement.
Backstop the Nature team’s post-event engagement following major global policy events, including compiling and maintaining a record of all relevant engagements, synthesizing key outcomes and decisions, coordinating follow-up actions with partners and organizers, and assessing implications and opportunities for the financial sector.
Ensure that all communications outputs reflect UNEP and UN core values, including human rights-based approach, the principle of leaving no one behind and gender equality and women’s empowerment, and contribute to internal awareness on these values.
Support the implementation of UNEP FI’s 2026–2029 Social Action Plan by including all relevant measures from the plan in their work. Outputs and Deliverables:
Research, drafting and coordination input delivered to support R4N project activities, including at least one knowledge product and the delivery of one stakeholder engagement activity, such as a consultation process or partner roundtable.
Briefing, coordination and follow-up materials prepared for the Nature team’s participation in at least one large global policy event, including a short note of outcomes relevant to the financial sector.
The above deliverables will be developed and implemented in alignment with UNEP FI’s Social Action Plan and guided by the UN’s core values. The consultant will report to: Overall supervisor: The Head of UNEP FI. Direct Supervisor: The Head of Nature, UNEP FI. Close coordination: The candidate will work closely with the UNEP FI social team and the relevant Nature team project leads.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A master’s degree in environmental management, sustainable development, geography, finance, economics, public policy, international relations, or a related discipline is required. A bachelor’s degree could be taken in lieu of a master’s degree provided the selected candidate has 4 years of relevant experience. Professional Experience: At least two (2) years of experience in the environmental non-profit sector, the financial services sector, public policy, commercial consulting, or applied academic research on sustainable finance is required. Relevant experience in nature finance, nature markets, or the social and human rights dimensions of nature-related finance is desirable. Experience with biodiversity or nature credit markets, supporting international policy processes, or working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities is an asset.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or other United Nations languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, strong interpersonal skills and ability to work across different topics, ability to cope with juggling multiple tasks across diverse projects in an organised and timely manner; attention to detail. Knowledge of nature finance and nature markets is desirable, as is familiarity with social safeguards, human rights due diligence or social action planning, and experience of writing reports and briefing notes. The consultant is expected to support colleagues in implementing the Nature team’s strategy and work plans. 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. An interest in nature finance and the social dimension of sustainable finance is desirable.

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.

UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Nature and Social Junior Consultant