JOB DESCRIPTION

Result of Service

The ultimate objective of the services is to build climate institutional capacity for the financial services sector in Latin America & the Caribbean and support banks and other financial institutions in the design and implementation of their climate journey. With that objective, the consultant will work directly with the UNEP FI climate, banking, and regional teams to conduct regional / country analysis of existing climate capabilities to identify gaps and opportunities, scope and prioritise regional and country-specific climate capacity-building needs, and plan and facilitate the delivery of climate capacity-building activities by engaging and leveraging the capabilities of relevant UNEP FI and other strategic partners’ teams in line with the regional and country-specific capacity-building plan.

Work Location

Working remotely / Home-based

Expected duration

9 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 Industry and 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. UNEP FI needs a consultant to, as part of UNEP FI’s global climate and regional Latin America and Caribbean teams, scale up and further develop climate initiatives for principally commercial banks, and secondarily insurers, and asset owners in Latin America and Caribbean, with a strong focus on capacity-building and advisory. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will work directly with UNEP FI climate, banking, and regional teams to perform the following tasks:

• Drive bilateral and collective engagement with banks, insurers, and asset owners to raise awareness and build capacity across the climate journey, by engaging and leveraging existing capabilities of relevant UNEP FI and other strategic partners’ teams.
• Conduct regional / country analysis of existing net zero capabilities to identify gaps and opportunities to advance institutional capacity across the different areas of financial decarbonisation.
• Scope and prioritise climate capacity-building needs in chosen region/jurisdictions taking into consideration PRB review data and regional knowledge. A clear emphasis should be on existing UNEP FI members with an objective of membership satisfaction and retention.
• Build climate capacity-building plan by considering UNEP FI’s and other strategic partners’ capabilities and resources.
• Design and prepare regional / country-specific training materials.
• Design and deliver capacity-building work in various forms to support FIs to advance their climate journey (all the way from impact analysis and climate risk management to Paris Alignment and transition planning).
• Engage with relevant parties to (bilaterally or collectively) to raise awareness and deliver climate capacity-building activities for banks, insurers, and asset owners in line with the plan to build institutional capacity across the stage of climate journey.
• Deliver peer-to-peer learning activities on financial decarbonisation in line with the plan.
• Drive 1-2-1 engagement with FIs on climate with support by global teams and regional teams. Priorities should be defined with global and the regional LAC teams in conjunction.
• Organize and deliver events for the acceleration of financial sector decarbonization, by leveraging UNEP FI and other partner capabilities.
• Map local stakeholders and engage them to create an enabling environment for banks’ climate journey, establish specific channels of collaboration towards the acceleration of banking (financial sector) decarbonization.
• Conduct maturity analysis of emissions data capabilities and explore opportunities to advance those.
• Identify potential partners to support on gathering country-specific data (e.g. GHG intensity factors and climate transition scenarios for specific sectors).
• Join UNEP FI climate and LAC team meetings to align planning, outreach, activities and travels.
• Prepare reporting materials: evaluations of strengths and weaknesses and insights for planning 2026/2027. Outputs and Deliverables:
• Members’ progress in their climate journey under consideration of PRB’s Review Team data
• Regional / Country Analyses (as per the stages of the journey)
• Regional Climate Capacity-Building Plan (as per the stages of the journey)
• Country-Tailored Capacity-Building (as per the stages of the journey) workshops and other forms of capacity-building and technical assistance.
• Country-Tailored Training Materials (as per the stages of the journey)
• Country Emissions Data Gap Analysis & Proposed Approach The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Climate Team Lead. The consultant will work closely with Climate Mitigation & Banking Lead, UNEP FI and other UNEP FI programme and regional teams, and aligned with the internal governance where work plans and activities are approved.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, banking, economic development, sustainable finance, climate finance, climate technologies, sustainable development, international relations, political sciences, or a related filed is required. A master’s degree may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, provided the candidate has 4 years of experience. Experience: At least six (6) years of working experience with financial institutions in net zero, climate finance and/or in relevant capacity building/training work is required. Previous working experience in target region is desirable.

Languages

Languages: English is the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of the climate agenda for the financial services sector, including emerging trends and best practices on climate for commercial banks and financial institutions more broadly. ● Deep understanding of climate concepts for the financial services sector including understanding of physical and transition risks for financial institutions, carbon accounting, climate commitment frameworks, international sustainable finance taxonomies, target-setting methodologies, climate scenarios, sectoral reduction trajectories and transition planning. ● Familiarity with regional climate pathways, tools, frameworks, and resources available for financial institutions in the region. ● Familiarity with UNEP FI’s climate initiatives, tools and frameworks including the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). ● Experience in developing and delivering technical support / training and capacity-building activities, ideally with banks or with other financial institutions. ● Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to engage with a variety of stakeholders including NGOs, international and domestic organizations, and authorities to foster partnerships. ● Strong interpersonal and communications skills. ● Experience in project planning and management.

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.