UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Risk Centre Consultant

Result of ServiceThrough these services, the Consultant should be able to contribute to delivering the following. In summary: UNEP FI needs a consultant to: 1) Contribute to the work of the Legal Risks Working Group of UNEP FI’s Risk Programme (greenwashing sessions and outputs) and development of its 25/26 programme 2) Contribute to delivering the customer transition plan workshop series – with a view also to deciding whether to establish a new working group, and if so, assist in developing the outline of that WG and its intended outputs 3) Contribute to outputs connected to regulation and standards: namely policy input as detailed below. 4) Contribute to the completion of outputs from the 24/25 UNEP FI Risk Programme on climate scenario analysis, stress testing and risk assessment, as well as support the implementation of the 25/26 programme working groups. 5) Support the Risk team’s regional training programme. 6) Contribute to the execution of other Risk Centre projects as assigned. Work LocationWorking remotely Expected duration6 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, 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 helps align private finance with sustainable development by engaging financial institutions committed to implementing leading industry sustainability frameworks – the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), Net-Zero Alliances for banks and asset owners (together with the Principles for Responsible Investment), and a multistakeholder Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero (FIT). UNEP FI’s Risk Centre provides financial institutions with research into emerging approaches and tools to assess, manage and report on sustainability risks in areas such as climate change, nature loss, pollution and social issues. UNEP FI’s Risk Centre provides UNEP FI members with insights and enhances capabilities for risk assessment and disclosure and provides opportunities to explore technical risk-related topics with experts, regulators, modelers, data providers and peers. Tailored for financial risk professionals, this hub builds on UNEP FI’s long-running climate and nature risk programmes. The Centre offers resources, technical skill-building workshops and working groups that develop cutting-edge risk management resources. The team also supports UNEP FI members on operationalising industry sustainability frameworks and readiness for regulatory measures on sustainability risk. To meet the growing momentum on environmental risk, UNEP is scaling up programming on climate risks, nature risks, and other emerging sustainability risks such as social and pollution. This work is undertaken under a Risk Centre to provide UNEP FI members with state-of-the-art knowledge and convening space for peers and leading partner organisations to ensure they can act with the best available, science-based information. To that effect, UNEP FI requires a consultant to provide support to UNEP FI’s risk programme to develop and deliver projects, engage stakeholders and support UNEP FI on risk integration across industry and thematic workstreams. The Consultant should have a proven track record supporting international programmes involving different stakeholder types, particularly financial organisations, and with a particular focus on sustainable finance and climate risks. Objectives: Objective 1: Deliver the first phase of the Client Transition Plan Assessment and Use Working Group. Objective 2: Deliver the combatting greenwashing outputs/associated project management to do this, as detailed in the combatting greenwashing project plan. Objective 3: Ascertain the interests of the Legal Risks Working Group in future sessions/outputs through outreach and finalisation of a note on key findings from this outreach. This will be used to support the development of the 2025/2026 WG sessions (in the future). Objective 4: Support the delivery of ongoing legal risks working group sessions, through supporting project management that may from time to time be required. Objective 5: Support Risk Centre/PRB training initiatives, including supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. Specific tasks and responsibilities : The consultant will be responsible for assisting with the following tasks: 1. For Customer Transition Plan WG– sessions and outputs a. Contribute to determining in conjunction with workshop participants, whether a full new working group should be established, and if so contribute to the production of: o Overview of working group sessions o Publication output proposal 2. For Legal Risks Working Group 24/25 Session administration for Legal Risks WG • Oversee the administration of the 24/25 LRWG, including managing invitations and follow-up emails, session technical support, and confirmation of speakers. • Contribute to detailed session overviews and managing requests from members as necessary. 3. Other team responsibilities • Managing membership data, session attendance tracking, and other Risk Centre tasks as required. 4. Climate scenario analysis, stress testing and risk assessment outputs for 24/25 • Contribute to the completion of the publication draft on the benchmarking exercise on climate-related credit risk modelling approaches by banks • Contribute to the completion of the publication draft on guidance on climate stress testing methodologies • Support the final release of these publications, including coordination with the communication and graphic designing teams, and any potential accompanying publication webinars. 5. Risk Centre Working Group preparation 25/26 • Contribute to the planning and set-up of Risk centre Working Groups for 25/26, as agreed by the membership. 6. Regional trainings • Conduct 1-2 trainings on climate risk for a particular region. Outputs and deliverables: a. Output 1- Contribute to combatting greenwashing output – providing there are an adequate number of banks that are willing to participate in this exercise from the LRWG: • Contribute to the finalisation of combatting greenwashing questionnaire for banks following consultation with the LRWG on its contents. • If we are undertaking this in partnership with a 3rd party (we may not be), following location of partners, contribute to the completion of TOR. • Contribute to a list of the right people to contribute to this work from banks – this is not always/often currently the membership of the legal risks WG. • Contribute to the write-up of interview findings from those interviews conducted and chart findings, following setting up/conducting of interviews. • Contribute to hosting 1 session with session slides on key findings/ to elicit any further required input • Contribute to developing a draft greenwashing report as required. b. Output 2 – Human Rights/Environmental crime/Sustainable Finance proposal – depending on interest from the group • Contribute to draft proposal note following consultation with the new 24/25 legal risks WG and develop contents overview on their chosen topic • Contribute to revised LRWG membership list following outreach with the legal risks WG with adequate representation from legal functions so that the WG can provide appropriate input on the above proposal & LRWG sessions) • Providing the 24/25 LR WG thinks there is merit in the proposal, contribute to the location of 3rd party & internal UN partners & contribute to draft associated TOR • Contribute to legal research for the publication, providing the 3rd parties will participate The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI, report directly to the Programme Management Officer , UNEP FI. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: A masters’ degree in law, economics, finance, risk management, environmental management, human rights, business administration or related fields preferred. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 4 years of relevant experience. Professional Experience: At least two (2) year of experience in the environmental non-profit sector, the financial services sector, commercial consulting, or conducted applied academic research on sustainable finance. This experience should be relevant for examining climate risks, climate policies, and the role of the financial sector in climate action. LanguagesLanguages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset. Additional InformationSkills & Knowledge: The Consultant should have a proven track record supporting international programmes involving different stakeholder types, particularly financial organisations, and with a particular focus on sustainable finance and climate risks. The Consultant should have direct experience of contributing to international programmes for banks to combat greenwashing, demonstrable knowledge and experience relating to the use and assessment of customer transition plans in a banking context, and basic knowledge of connection with climate disclosures and risk management, and a working knowledge of existing transition planning frameworks. 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.