Through the support by the Consultant to the development of the Pollution and Circular Economy workstream activities, financial institutions will have an increased awareness and knowledge on the circular economy opportunities, including in high impact sectors such as textile and plastics. They will have increased knowledge on the nexus between circular economy, climate, nature and pollution and how to incorporate circular economy approaches in target setting and action plans on climate and nature, as well as an increased capacity to catalyse circular economy financing through regional initiatives. Financial institutions will have an increased awareness and knowledge on the pollution risks and impacts and an enhanced capacity to advance pollution prevention and reduction, including in the agricultural sector and in the plastics value chain.
Work LocationWorking remotely
Expected duration12 months
Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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 300 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 circular economy/resource efficiency target setting in 2023 and is working on operationalising the nexus between circular economy, climate and nature target setting, as well as on regional initiatives to catalyse circular economy finance. UNEP FI will execute 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 will also implement as from Q3 2023 the private finance component of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) programme, “Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM), a new GEF funded programme that aims to strengthen the sound management of agricultural chemicals and their waste, through better control, and reduction and / or elimination. UNEP FI is also supporting financial sector engagement on intergovernmental negotiations and action to address plastic pollution.
UNEP FI needs a consultant to provide support across activities of its Pollution & Circular Economy work programme to engage the financial sector and build technical capacity on UNEP priorities including plastic and chemical pollution, resource efficiency and circular economy. 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 across activities and projects of the thematic area, including among others the following:
- The Task Force of banks on operationalizing the nexus between circular economy target setting and climate/nature target setting,
- Regional support to UNEP FI members based on global guidance on circular economy target setting, for instance in the form of regional workshop materials for capacity building,
- The finance component of the ONE UNEP Textile Project which aims to trigger systems change to accelerate the transition towards a circular textile sector,
- The private finance component of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) FARM Programme aiming to prevent and reduce chemical and plastic pollution in the agriculture sector,
- Activities aiming at ending plastic pollution, especially related to the ONE UNEP Plastics Initiative and to the future international plastic agreement.
The Consultant will support the Pollution and Circular Economy lead to successfully develop the activities of the workstream and deliver timely financial management, reporting and delivery of milestones for the various projects of the workstream.
Objective is (i) to provide support across Pollution and Circular Economy workstream activities to raise financial institutions’ awareness and capacity on pollution risks prevention and reduction and on circular economy opportunities, and (ii) to support the delivery of reports requested under the Pollution and Circular Economy workstream.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
The Consultant shall have the following specific tasks and responsibilities:
- Support in the development of a guidance on operationalising the nexus between circular economy, climate, and nature target setting, in coordination with the Banking team, the Climate team and the Nature team. The Consultant will support in exploring with banks how the circular economy is a crucial enabler to achieve banks’ targets on climate mitigation and on nature, based on the conceptual approach of how climate, nature and pollution are interconnected and banks’ work on a given impact area affects positively or negatively other impact areas. This will include running desktop research and consultations with members of the Task Force and supporting in the drafting and launch of the guidance. The Consultant will build on the work already developed by UNEP FI and UNEP on climate, nature, pollution, and circular economy. The Consultant’s work will be developed in close coordination with UNEP FI and UNEP relevant teams, and other partners and experts as needed.
- Support in the initial phases of implementation of the GEF FARM Programme, including the organisation of a launching event for the Programme and the development of a detailed work plan to develop a guidance on agrichemicals and agriplastics pollution. The Consultant will support the implementation of the work plan, the outreach to financial institutions and the preparation of periodic reporting as requested under the GEF FARM Programme. The Consultant will work closely with the Lead Consultant for the GEF FARM Programme and relevant UNEP and UNEP FI teams and relevant partners and experts.
- Support to implement regional activities and/or capacity building materials based on global guidance on circular economy target setting for banks, in coordination with the Banking team and regional coordinators as relevant.
- Support as needed in activities related to the finance component of the ONE UNEP Textile Project and the ONE UNEP Plastics Initiative. This will include supporting fund-raising activities by preparing concept notes and other material as needed, reaching out to potential donors, and reviewing legal documentation. The Consultant will work in close coordination with relevant UNEP and UNEP FI teams.
- Support the preparation of reporting requested under the various projects implemented by the Pollution and Circular Economy team, in close coordination with the Pollution and Circular Economy lead and the Administrative team.
- Work closely with the Communication team to support in preparing communication materials and events under the various projects implemented by the Pollution and Circular Economy team.
- Provide support as needed 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.
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent experience) in economics, finance, environment, resource management, sustainability, business, strategy, management, or a related field. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 3 years of relevant experience. The consultant should have excellent listening, writing, and speaking communications skills.
Professional Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of work experience, ideally in the area of finance/sustainable 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/ pollution is a plus.
Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.
Additional InformationSpecial 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. The candidate should be able to work in an organised and timely manner and have personal resilience to work effectively in a complex setting. Knowledge of sustainable finance and/or banking and/or insurance is desirable, as well as knowledge on the issue of pollution and/or the circular economy.
No FeeTHE 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.
$ads={1}