Result of Service

The result of the services will be used to successfully support the PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair, the wider UNEP FI insurance team, and the UNEP FI administration team on administrative matters, ensuring that PSI and FIT operations and activities are running smoothly and efficiently.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

6 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 32 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. Established in 1972, 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 UN system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Founded in 1992, UNEP’s 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 about 500 banks and insurers—and over 100 supporting institutions—to help create a financial sector that serves people and planet while delivering positive impacts. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance industry CEOs, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities—such as climate change, nature loss, pollution, human rights and social inequality—as risk managers, insurers and investors. The PSI is a global initiative to strengthen the insurance industry’s contribution to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Developed by UNEP’s Finance Initiative, the PSI was launched at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and has led to the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the insurance industry. As of September 2024, close to 300 organisations have joined the PSI, including insurers representing about one-third of world premium and USD 15 trillion in assets under management, and the most extensive global network of insurance and stakeholder organisations committed to addressing sustainability challenges. The Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero (FIT) is a structured dialogue and multistakeholder platform led and convened by the United Nations to support the necessary acceleration and scaling up of voluntary climate action by the insurance industry and key stakeholders. The Convenor, Chair and Spokesperson of the FIT is UNEP, which provides and serves as the Secretariat. The FIT works with insurance market participants (e.g. insurers, reinsurers, re/insurance marketplaces, brokers) and engages with insurance regulators and supervisors, net-zero standard setters and initiatives, the scientific and academic community, civil society, and other key stakeholders (e.g. sustainability disclosure initiatives, real economy actors). At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the V20—68 climate-vulnerable economies with a total population of 1.7 billion—launched the V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility (SIF). The SIF is a project pipeline development facility to assist V20 economies in scoping the financial protection needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)—the backbone of V20 economies. It aims to deliver climate-smart insurance solutions that would build the climate resilience of MSMEs and support the transition to net-zero economies. The SIF will facilitate project concept and proposal development under the leadership of V20 finance ministers and is an implementation programme of the Global Shield against Climate Risks. The PSI-hosted SIF Project Office is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ). Under the direction and supervision of the PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair, the Individual Contractor (IC) will support the administration of PSI and FIT operations and activities. In doing so, the IC will coordinate with the wider PSI/FIT/UNEP FI team, particularly the PSI Programme Implementation Officer, PSI Africa Implementation Officer, UNEP FI Communications Lead for Insurance, FIT Project Coordinator, FIT Project Manager (and other FIT roles in the future), V20-SIF Global Coordinator, Regional Coordinators and Communications Officer (and other V20-SIF roles in the future), PSI Nature-Positive Insurance Project Manager, UNEP FI insurance team interns, and the UNEP FI administration team. Objectives The result of the services will be the provision of administrative support to the PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair and the wider UNEP FI insurance team and the UNEP FI administration team, ensuring that PSI and FIT operations and activities are running smoothly and efficiently. • Support for the PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair and wider UNEP FI insurance team in preparing meeting and event materials (including post-meeting and event materials), and in arranging meetings and events (e.g. PSI Board meetings, FIT General Assembly meetings, PSI and FIT onboarding, country and regional calls, PSI and FIT events, UNEP FI Global and Regional Roundtables) • Support for the PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair, PSI Africa Implementation Officer and wider UNEP FI insurance team in preparing materials and activities related to the PSI Sustainable Insurance Training Programme (SIT), PSI Signatory Journey Guide (SIGN), FIT Knowledge Hub, and relevant projects and activities • Assistance with the maintenance of the UNEP FI database and UNEP FI work planning platform • Assistance with the application process (and invoicing process, where applicable) for PSI signatories and supporters; and FIT participants, supporters, consultative group members and observers • Assistance with human resource administrative matters, including recruitment and onboarding of consultants and interns and coordination of annual leaves of UNEP FI insurance team members • Assistance with the administration of legal agreements (e.g. donor agreements) Specific tasks and responsibilities • Schedule various PSI and FIT meetings and events and support the preparation of materials, minutes and summary/outcome documents. • Support the preparation of materials related to the PSI Sustainable Insurance Training Programme (SIT), PSI Signatory Journey Guide (SIGN), FIT Knowledge Hub and relevant projects and activities. • Support the encoding of relevant PSI and FIT data/information in the UNEP FI database and UNEP FI work planning platform. • Administer applications by organisations seeking to become PSI signatories and supporters; and FIT participants, supporters, consultative group members and observers; and assist the UNEP FI administration/finance team with the invoicing process, as necessary. • Schedule interviews with applicants for UNEP FI insurance team consultancies and internships and collate and summarise annual leaves of UNEP FI insurance team members in sharable files, and support with the preparation of materials to onboard consultants and interns recruited. • Coordinate with the UNEP FI administration/finance team on legal agreements (e.g. donor agreements) and provide relevant information, as necessary. The individual contractor shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. A university degree in administration, insurance, finance and economics or a related field is desirable. Experience: At least one (1) year of experience within the UN system, government administration, non-governmental organizations, private sector and/or relevant organizations, with experience in administration, insurance and/or finance. Proficiency in the use of computers and standard Microsoft Office software (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience in using the UN’s Umoja system is an asset.

Languages

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, spoken and written English is essential. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills and knowledge: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from the clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

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.