United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between UNEP and the Global Financial sector to mobilise private sector finance for sustainable development.

UNEP FI works with more than 460 banks, insurers, investors, and over 160 supporting institutions to help create a financial sector that serves people and the planet while delivering positive impacts. UNEP FI aims to inspire, inform, and enable financial institutions to improve people’s quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

The initiative supports the implementation of programmes at a regional level across Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. UNEP FI convenes financial institutions to advance knowledge and practice in areas including, climate, nature, pollution & circular economy, the SDGs & impact, and social issues. Also, this initiative convenes three finance sector ‘net-zero” alliances, and is working with key stakeholders to help members align portfolios with science-based greenhouse gas emissions
pathways through interim targets:

1. Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (‘AOA’): Launched in 2019, with more than 70 institutional asset owners.
2. Net Zero Banking Alliance (‘NZBA’): Launched in 2021 with over 115 banks, the majority of NZBA members are PRB signatories that are setting ambitious climate targets.
3. Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (‘NZIA’) Launched in 2021, convening 30 leading insurers representing about 12% of world premiums, working together to establish the transition to net-zero insurance.

Under the direct supervision of the Program Management Officer, the Social and Human Rights Lead will be responsible for the following :

1. Leads the further establishment of the UNEP Secretariat capacity to advance financing for social and human rights issues, including a just transition. This includes resource mobilisation, team development, structure and processes and the execution of core Secretariat tasks to contribute to UNEP FI’s operational and strategic objectives.
2. Oversees and coordinates the execution of social and human rights annual work-plans, including managing a pool of consultants, with an integrated approach to contribute to UNEP FI’s programme for banks and insurers.
3. Develops resources to support global norms, support member implementation, sectoral transformation, outreach, awareness raising, knowledge sharing and systems change in coordination with industry/thematic and policy, communications, finance, HR and regional coordination/capacity building leads.
4. Ensures accuracy and quality control of the social and human rights work stream’s outputs, including alignment with UN messaging.
5. Engages members and key stakeholders across jurisdictions to raise awareness and convene industry, academic, IGO and NGO experts where relevant.
6. Supports the governance of the UNEP FI, by implementing, facilitating and documenting meetings, exchanges and interactions as required of the UNEP FI Secretariat, and any related governance bodies, at both expert and principals level.
7. Oversees, analyses, aggregates and helps develop and promote thought leadership and ambitious, science-based global norms through resources such as publications and monitors progress, in line with established requirements and timelines.
8. Contributes to supporting integration of approaches, methodologies and tools into finance systems and processes to accelerate implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the financial sector, helping to advance global norms, including in areas such as the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
9. Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of social and human rights programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
10. Prepares and coordinates various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. and ensures quality of outputs.
11. Undertakes field missions and outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on social and human rights topics/activities for different regions and contexts.
12. Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
13. Leads and oversees the Secretariat of the UNEP FI – facilitated social and human rights work stream. Focus will be on supporting the social aspects of implementing and operationalising the PRB, PSI and Net Zero alliances and the further professionalisation of the Secretariat on social issues. The incumbent will support banks and insurers on addressing social issues through strategies, operations and portfolio management. The frameworks reinforce, accelerate and supports the implementation of decarbonisation and sustainability strategies, providing internationally coherent frameworks and guidelines in which to operate, supported by peer-learning and relevant expertise. Social issues will be supported in the development of policy & regulatory frameworks such as taxonomies where feasible.

Education

Contract type: Staff / Fixed Term Appointment (FTA – Staff Contract)
Contract level: P-4 / ICS-11
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.