UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Adaptation Finance Consultant

Result of ServiceThrough these services, UNEP FI will be able to deliver: 1. The 2025 workplan of the Adaptation and Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC), particularly the Resilience Challenge design and implementation timeline for an anticipated launch at COP30 in November 2025. 2. Initial target set of external stakeholders for engagement, with the Consultant expected to also contribute with additional, complementary stakeholders as required. Both of these projects will help to scale private financing for climate adaptation and resilience. Work LocationWorking remotely Expected duration7 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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 and insurers. 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. Since the publication of the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures in 2017, UNEP FI has been working with banks, investors and insurers to assess the potential risks from the physical impacts of climate change. The TCFD sets out how companies, including financial institutions can identify, assess, manage and report on climate-related financial risks. Since 2017, the TCFD framework has been increasingly integrated into corporate and finance sector regulations with the aims of ensuring financial stability and providing greater transparency around climate-related risks and opportunities in financial markets. Recent surveys of UNEP FI members have shown that the main reasons for financial institutions to assess climate-related risks are compliance with these new and expanding regulations, and to respond to climate stress tests imposed by central banks and regulators. Monitoring and reporting on climate-related risks, however, does not mean that financial institutions, businesses, households, communities and economies will necessarily become more climate resilient. UNEP FI has been working to identify how financial institutions can not only identify and report on risks but also support climate adaptation in the real economy, working with banks, insurers and development finance institutions through the following projects and initiatives: • Finance sector: In early 2019, UNEP FI together with the Global Commission on Adaptation reviewed the key challenges in scaling up adaptation finance, and how policy makers and financial institutions could incentivise greater investment in adaptation. Find out more in the report Driving Finance Today for the Climate Resilient Society of Tomorrow. • Insurance can play an important role in scaling finance for adaptation and resilience by pricing and managing the risks. UNEP FI’s collaboration with the V20 group of climate vulnerable countries aims to create more climate resilient economies by supporting insurance and credit solutions for medium, small and micro enterprises through the Sustainable Insurance Facility. • Banks’ exposure to the physical impacts of climate change is set out in UNEP FI’s framing paper Adapting to a New Climate. Based on the recommendations of this report, a working group of 26 signatories to the Principles for Responsible Banking launched the world’s first Adaptation Target Setting guidance for banks. This guidance provides an overarching framework, but 2024 will see an exercise to pilot the guidance across a handful of sectors with a greater focus on implementation through physical risk assessment, impact metrics, financial mobilisation and adaptation planning. • Development finance: Climate risk mitigation will also require concessional finance – development finance institutions (DFIs) are working with UNEP FI to develop the tools necessary to scale up finance for adaptation in emerging markets and developing countries through the Adaptation & Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC). Objectives: Under the direct supervision of the UNEP FI Climate Lead, working in close coordination with UNEP FI Climate Consultants, The consultant will deliver the following project outputs for UNEP FI: 1. Finalised Resilience Challenge Framework for A&R investment vehicles. 2. Finalised Resilience Challenge Implementation Guidance for A&R investment vehicles. 3. Manage backtesting of Resilience Challenge Framework with one or two selected Development Finance Institutions or other investors. 4. Organise launch of Resilience Challenge Framework and Implementation Guidance in November 2025 at PRI in Person and/or COP30. 5. Organise Resilience Challenge engagement event at London Climate Action Week. 6. 2026 Strategy for scaling of the Resilience Challenge These outputs should be complemented by support to the UNEP FI colleagues on the ARIC working groups, team strategy development and fundraising where necessary. Specific tasks and responsibilities: 1. Leading the engagement and outreach on ARIC’s Resilience Challenge: a. Support to drafting & finalisation of the Resilience Challenge Framework. b. Support to drafting & finalisation of the Resilience Challenge Implementation Guidance. c. Managing external consultation on the Resilience Challenge Framework and Implementation Guidance. d. Identifying and working with investors to back test the Resilience Challenge Framework. e. Engagement and outreach with external stakeholders on implementing the Resilience Challenge. f. Supporting the design, publication and launch of the Resilience Challenge Framework and Implementation Guidance g. Supporting pilot implementation of the Resilience Challenge Framework and Implementation Guidance through a RFP supported by a Sustainable Finance Platform or Accelerator such as the Sustainable Investment Accelerator. h. Engagement with non-UNEP FI initiatives where relevant, such as IIGCC Climate Resilience Investment Framework (CRIF) The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Climate Lead. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: A master’s degree or equivalent is required in economics and/or finance, business, engineering, international relations, environmental studies, or climate change. A bachelor’s degree in combination with nine (9) years of work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional Experience: At least seven (7) year’s working experience in the financial services sector. Experience of building and managing relationships with external stakeholders. Experience of presenting and moderating conference calls and organising events/workshops. Experience of writing/editing technical reports. Experience across public and private sector finance. Desirable: Experience in international organizations, NGOs or consultancies. Experience working in field of the sustainable or green finance. Experience of climate, or climate adaptation, finance and investment structures would be highly desirable. LanguagesLanguages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset. Additional InformationSkills & Knowledge: Proven knowledge of the field of sustainable and climate finance is required, preferably in the field of climate adaptation and resilience. Proven knowledge of investing or lending operations and structuring financial products. Skilled in convening public and private sector stakeholders to create consensus or mobilise action. Ability to juggle varied activities in an organized and timely manner. Excellent communication skills (listening, spoken and written). Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills. Ability to translate new and diverse ideas and concepts into tangible outcomes, to identify and prioritize common interests in a diverse set of points of view. The incumbent is expected to work independently with minimal supervision and must have significant latitude to be self-directed and be highly motivated. Problem solving skills are desirable. An established network of sustainable finance decision-makers, influencers and practitioners is desirable. Fluency in written and spoken English required. 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.