UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Risk Consultant

Result of ServiceThrough these services, the Senior Advisor should be able to contribute to delivering the following. In summary: • Deliver support to financial institutions on Client Transition Plan Assessments and Use. • Develop support for banks on risk management as part of PRB implementation. • Develop project proposal for research on environment-related risk management in banking/insurance in consultation with key stakeholders and implement in coordination with industry/thematic teams. • Support risk-related capacity building of UNEP FI members. • Provide support on legal risk related to greenwashing. • Convene key stakeholders on Legal Risks and hold information sessions. • Establish partnerships to undertake research on E&S/Sustainability Risk data, tools, modelling and AI and raise awareness among UNEP FI members. • Support the delivery of Risk Centre/PRB guidance development and capacity building initiatives and supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. • Support members on readiness for sustainable finance regulatory measures in coordination with UNEP FI’s policy team. • Ensure the Risk Centre programme contributes to implementing the PRB, PSI, and assessing and managing climate, nature, pollution and social risk, adjusting working group work plans and materials with suggestions for adapting them and contributing to the risk programme's planning /scoping activities. • Ensure relevance for the financial sector on upcoming priorities in the field of environmental and social risk and consider how those topics might be integrated into current and future Risk programme sessions or working groups. • Suggest potential risk-related partnerships or outputs that might be of benefit to UNEP FI and its members. • Promote UNEP FI Risk outputs and offerings online and at in-person events. • Provide input into the communications strategy and materials of UNEP FI to communicate the Risk offerings to financial institutions’ risk teams. Work LocationWorking remotely Expected duration5 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, modellers, 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 will bring expertise and perspectives from the legal or finance sector to ensure Risk Centre activities support financial institutions in implementing the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) and climate and nature risk management in line with the priorities of UNEP FI members and UNEP. This alignment aims to enhance future activities to meet financial institutions’ sustainability risk management needs more effectively and advance integrated risk management. Objectives: Objective 1: In conjunction with the consultant, intern, and external partners, deliver the Client Transition Plan Assessment and Use Working Group. Objective 2: In conjunction with the consultant, external consultancy, and intern, develop project proposal for research on environment-related risk management in banking/insurance in consultation with key stakeholders and implement in coordination with industry/thematic teams. Objective 3: In conjunction with the consultant and intern, develop and manage the Working Group sessions/outputs as assigned (likely Legal Risks Working Group and/or Risk Tools and AI Working Group). Objective 4: Support the delivery of ongoing Risk centre working group sessions, through supporting project management that may from time to time be required. Objective 5: Ensure the Risk Centre programme contributes to implementing the PRB, PSI, and assessing and managing climate, nature, pollution and social risk, adjusting working group work plans and materials with suggestions for adapting them and contributing to the risk programme's planning /scoping activities. Objective 6: Support Risk Centre/PRB training initiatives, including supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. Specific tasks and responsibilities: • Deliver support to financial institutions on Client Transition Plan Assessments and Use. • Develop support for banks on risk management as part of PRB implementation. • Develop project proposal for research on environment-related risk management in banking/insurance in consultation with key stakeholders and implement in coordination with industry/thematic teams. • Support risk-related capacity building of UNEP FI members. • Provide support on legal risk related to greenwashing. Convene key stakeholders on Legal Risks and hold information sessions. Establish partnerships to undertake research on E&S/Sustainability Risk data, tools, modelling and AI and raise awareness among UNEP FI members. • Support the delivery of Risk Centre/PRB guidance development and capacity building initiatives and supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. • Support members on readiness for sustainable finance regulatory measures in coordination with UNEP FI’s policy team. • Ensure the Risk Centre programme contributes to implementing the PRB, PSI, and assessing and managing climate, nature, pollution and social risk, adjusting working group work plans and materials with suggestions for adapting them and contributing to the risk programme's planning /scoping activities. • Ensure relevance for the financial sector on upcoming priorities in the field of environmental and social risk and consider how those topics might be integrated into current and future Risk programme sessions or working groups. • Suggest potential risk-related partnerships or outputs that might be of benefit to UNEP FI and its members. • Promote UNEP FI Risk outputs and offerings online and at in-person events. Provide input into the communications strategy and materials of UNEP FI to communicate the Risk offerings to financial institutions’ risk teams. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI, report directly to Programme Management Officer Deputy Head, UNEP FI. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: A bachelor’s degree in law, economics, finance, environmental studies, international relations, business administration or related fields preferred. An advanced university degree in combination with three (3) years of work experience may be accepted in lieu of the first level university degree. Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the financial services sector, law, environmental science, commercial consulting, data analytics or applied academic research on risk management or sustainable finance. This experience should be relevant for examining assessment, management and disclosure of E&S /climate risks, and the role of the financial sector in managing sustainability issues relevant to micro/macroprudential risk management. Experience with data science and technology for advancing risk management is beneficial. LanguagesLanguages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. English is mandatory for this consultancy. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset. Additional InformationSpecial skills/knowledge: The Consultant should have a proven track record supporting risk-related research, experience in working with financial institutions (banks and/or insurers, and with a particular focus on sustainability or climate/nature risks. In addition, some knowledge of risk tools and/or data analytics/modelling and the use of AI in connection with climate disclosures and risk management would be advantageous. Knowledge and experience with transition plans or greenwashing in a financial sector context, human rights knowledge, and/or a sound knowledge of sustainable finance/climate risk regulation and standards is desirable. 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.