Result of Service

To advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

2 months

Duties and Responsibilities

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystem Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture – whether from large-scale operations or smallholder farmers – as well as other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets. By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed, and agricultural commodities are produced. The challenge is to advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services. Against that background, UNEP’s Climate Finance Unit seeks to actively unlock and (re)direct public and private capital towards sustainable land use, including deforestation-free soft commodity production that leads to ‘net zero, nature positive’ impacts on the environment and improves rural livelihoods. Given the challenge that Brazil and neighboring countries are facing with respect to changing agricultural production, forestry and other land use practices in order to meet climate and biodiversity targets and the need to scale up sustainable private finance and investment to make this a reality, UNEP’s Brazil Office and UNEP’s Climate Finance Unit are seeking an experienced Agriculture & Forest Finance Analyst to actively support in the innovative finance initiatives in Latin America region focusing on the Innovative Finance for the Amazon Cerrado and Chaco (IFACC) initiative being implemented in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The IFACC initiative that the selected candidate will be involved in encompasses: • IFACC is an initiative of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to significantly increase and accelerate lending and investment in sustainable agriculture in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay • IFACC’s goal is to mobilize $10 billion in commitments and disbursements by 2030 by bringing together leading companies, banks, and investors who, together, work to meet the need for transitional finance in the production of beef, soy, and other agricultural products without further deforestation or conversion. • Incentivizing agricultural expansion on already-cleared lands and advancing sustainable intensification to grow yields while protecting nature is a critical piece of the puzzle for transforming agricultural and agroforestry production models in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The technology exists; what’s lacking is sufficient investment and incentives tailored to the needs of rural producers. Through initiatives such as IFACC, this is beginning to change. Under the close coordination of the UNEP’s Project Manager of IFACC and in supervision with the Chief, UNEP Climate Finance Unit, the Agriculture & Forest Finance Analyst will perform a number of specialized tasks to scale up exposure of the work of UNEP CFU and IFACC initiative. The consultant will work directly with various team members in the Climate Finance Unit team as well as UNEP’s Brazil Office and IFACC partners (TNC and TFA), and report to UNEP’s Project Manager of IFACC, with a second reporting line to the Chief, Climate Finance Unit.

Qualifications/special skills

The consultant must have a bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economic, international relations, or natural resource management At least five (5) years of professional experience working with financial institutions on forest and/or agricultural finance, agribusinesses, non-governmental organizations, and government. An excellent network with government agencies in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, as well as having a network with agribusinesses, traders, banks, and investors is desirable. Must be autonomous and computer literate in standard software applications; have excellent writing and communication skills; good analytical skills with an interest in the topic of sustainable land use and green finance; have good interpersonal skills

Languages

For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese is required. Being able to speak, write and communicate in Spanish is a distinct advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.