Result of Service

Through the support by the Consultant to the development of the Pollution and Circular Economy workstream activities, financial institutions, including signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking and NZBA members, will have an increased awareness and knowledge on the circular economy opportunities and the associated reduction of GHG emissions, including in high impact sectors. Financial institutions will have increased knowledge on the nexus between circular economy and climate mitigation, as well as other sustainability topics such as nature, pollution, and social impact areas and how to incorporate circular economy approaches in target setting and action plans on climate mitigation and other sustainability topics. Financial institutions will have an increased capacity to catalyze circular economy financing to help delivering on their climate mitigation commitments (and other commitments).

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

12 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 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 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 promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. UNEP FI convenes the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), a unique framework for ensuring that signatory banks’ strategy and practice align with the vision society has set out for its future in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. Over 330 banks have now signed the PRB to make a positive contribution to people and the planet. These banks represent more than half of the global banking industry. UNEP FI also convenes insurers that are signatories to the Principles for Sustainable Insurance and co-hosts the Investment Leadership Programme with the Principles for Responsible Investment. UNEP FI has recently established a thematic area focusing on Pollution and Circular Economy. This workstream will continue to build support on circular economy technical capabilities and help financial institutions address pollution risks such as plastics and chemical pollution. UNEP FI published a global updated guidance for banks on resource efficiency and circular economy target setting, as well as the first reports in a series of guidance documents on operationalizing the nexus between circular economy and climate, nature, pollution and healthy and inclusive economy (Nexus Guidance Series), with a first focus on interlinkages between circular economy and climate mitigation (Circular Economy Climate Nexus Guidance), at sector agnostic level and in a couple of high impact sectors. UNEP FI will continue developing this series of guidance documents by further exploring interlinkages between circular economy and climate mitigation in other high impact sectors, and by working on the interlinkages between circular economy and other sustainability topics. UNEP FI is also working on regional initiatives to catalyze circular economy finance. UNEP FI is also executing the finance component of sectoral projects led by UNEP to trigger systems change to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in high impact sectors, inter alia in the textile sector through the ONE UNEP Textile Project and in the plastics value chain through the ONE UNEP Plastics Initiative. UNEP FI needs a consultant to support the Pollution and Circular Economy team’s work related to the nexus between circular economy and climate, nature, pollution and healthy and inclusive economy, especially on the interlinkages between circular economy and climate mitigation. UNEP FI currently does not have the relevant capacity internally to carry out the stated tasks as shown below. UNEP FI needs additional capacity for the workstream Pollution and Circular Economy, to provide support on climate mitigation related activities and projects of the thematic area, including among others the following: • Developing further guidance documents for banks under the Nexus Guidance Series on operationalizing the nexus between circular economy and climate, nature, pollution, and healthy and inclusive economy, with a special focus in especially for all activities related to interlinkages between circular economy and climate mitigation. • Supporting banks to implement recommendations in the Nexus Guidance Series, especially in the Circular Economy Climate Nexus Guidance, though supporting the organization of workshops or capacity building sessions across regions. Objectives Objective is (i) Develop, under the Nexus Guidance Series, new resources to guide banks, including signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking and NZBA members, on how to manage interlinkages between circular economy and climate mitigation, including at least two sectoral guidance documents and new resources to support banks’ client engagement on circular economy and climate mitigation. (ii) Support the development and deployment of a capacity building program for banks based on the guidance documents developed under the Nexus Guidance Series, with a focus on the nexus between circular economy and climate mitigation. Specific tasks and responsibilities The Consultant shall have the following specific tasks and responsibilities: 1) Support in the development of further guidance documents, including sectoral guidance, in the Nexus Guidance Series on operationalizing the nexus between circular economy and climate, nature, pollution and healthy and inclusive economy, in coordination with the Banking team, the Climate team, the NZBA team and other relevant UNEP FI teams (including Nature, Social and SGDs & Impact teams). – The Consultant will support in exploring with banks how the circular economy is a crucial enabler to achieve banks’ targets in climate mitigation and other impact areas, based on the conceptual approach of how climate, nature and pollution are interconnected and how banks’ work on a given impact area affects positively or negatively other impact areas. – The Consultant will focus mainly on the nexus between circular economy and climate mitigation, for which the Consultant will support the development of at least two sectoral guidance documents in two high impact sectors and resources to support banks in their client engagement on circular economy and climate mitigation. – This will include running desktop research and consultations with members of the working group, and supporting in the drafting and launch of the guidance documents. – The Consultant will build on the work already developed by UNEP FI and UNEP on climate mitigation and circular economy, as well as other sustainability topics. – The Consultant’s work will be developed in close coordination with UNEP FI and UNEP relevant teams, and other partners and experts as needed. 2) Support to implement regional activities and/or capacity building materials based on the guidance documents developed under the Nexus Guidance Series on interlinkages between circular economy and climate, nature, pollution and healthy and inclusive economy, with a focus on the nexus between circular economy and climate mitigation. – The Consultant will support in preparing the content of the workshops or capacity building sessions, including at regional level, and to organise and hold the sessions, in coordination with the capacity building team, the Banking and Climate teams and regional coordinators as relevant. 3) Work closely with the Communication team to support in preparing communication materials and events related to the Nexus Guidance Series. 4) Provide support as needed on climate mitigation related considerations across the projects and initiatives developed and implemented by the Pollution and Circular Economy team. The Consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, working in close coordination with the Pollution and Circular Economy Lead.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A master’s degree or equivalent in economics, finance, environment, resource management, sustainability, business, strategy, management, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with seven (7) relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. The consultant should have excellent listening, writing and speaking communications skills. Professional Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of work experience, ideally in the area of finance/sustainable finance/climate finance. Experience working in/with banks, insurers and/or investment firms is an advantage, as well as experience working in international contexts. Experience working in the area of resource efficiency/circular economy is a plus.

Languages

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

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: The candidate should have excellent proven conceptual, analytical, research, interviewing, writing and editing skills. The consultant should have strong project management, stakeholder engagement and consultation competencies. He or she should have an understanding of financial services (banking, insurance and/or investment) and of climate mitigation financing. The candidate should be able to work in an organized and timely manner and have personal resilience to work effectively in a complex setting. Knowledge of sustainable finance, climate finance and/or banking and/or insurance is desirable, as well as knowledge on resource efficiency/circular economy. Strong technical skills will be an advantage.

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.