Result of ServiceThe consultant will support the delivery of resources, technical skill-building workshops and working groups that develop cutting-edge risk management resources, as well as supporting UNEP FI members to operationalise industry sustainability frameworks and readiness for regulatory measures on sustainability risk. UNEP FI has a Banking Programme that, inter alia, provides support to member banks to implement the Principles for Responsible Banking through a Responsible Banking Journey. One part of this programme is a work-track focused on supporting banks with client engagement on transition and sustainability. This includes developing practical tools to both deepen and widen client engagement, increasingly through a sectoral lens that integrates multiple impact areas in a holistic approach to sustainability impacts, risks and opportunities. The consultant will support the work-track by providing strategic advice, facilitating peer learning, development of case studies, and engagements with subject matter experts. The services will also help promote sustainability into all aspects of the financial sector’s operations and services thereby driving transition and transformation across the real economy in line with global climate targets and sustainable development goals. Work LocationWorking remotely / Home-based Expected duration12 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 requires a senior advisor to provide support to UNEP FI’s banking and risk programmes to develop and deliver projects, engage stakeholders and support UNEP FI on both client engagement and risk integration across industry and thematic workstreams. The senior advisor will bring expertise and perspectives from the banking sector to ensure that UNEP FI activities support financial institutions in implementing the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) as well as integrating sustainability risks into their risk management practices, in line with the priorities of UNEP FI members and UNEP. This work has two overall aims: firstly, to enhance future activities to meet financial institutions’ sustainability risk management needs more effectively and advance integrated risk management, and secondly to deepen the banking sector’s engagement with clients and customers around sustainability and transition. Objectives: • Objective 1: In conjunction with others in the Risk Centre and external partners, deliver the Sustainability Risk Integration Programme. • Objective 2: In conjunction with others in the Risk Centre develop project proposals and lead work on sustainability risk management in the financial sector in consultation with key stakeholders and implement in coordination with industry/thematic teams. • Objective 3: In conjunction with others in the Risk Centre, develop and manage the Working Group sessions/outputs as assigned. • 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 sustainability risks, adjusting working group work plans and materials with suggestions for adapting them and contributing to the risk programme's planning /scoping activities. • Objective 6: Promote alignment of the Risk Centre programme and the Banking programme ensuring that synergies are identified in the implementation of work programmes and projects and contribute to a collaborative partnership. • Objective 7: Support Risk Centre and PRB training initiatives, including supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. • Objective 8: Working with the Banking Team on strategic projects, including supporting and providing strategic advice to the Client Engagement on Sustainability Worktrack aimed at helping PRB banks work responsibly with their clients to support them in transitioning towards net zero with nature-positive, inclusive and just outcomes. Specific tasks and responsibilities: • Deliver support to financial institutions on Sustainability Risk Integration and Client Engagement. • Develop support for banks on sustainability risk management as part of PRB implementation. Develop outputs that highlight the role of risk management in the Responsible Banking Journey. • Develop project proposals and lead work (e.g., sessions, project) on sustainability risk management in banking/insurance in consultation with key stakeholders and implement in coordination with industry/thematic teams. • Provide inputs and expert advice across the breadth of Risk Centre projects, as needed. • Support sustainability risk-related capacity building of UNEP FI members. • Support the delivery of Risk Centre and PRB guidance development and capacity building initiatives and supporting material as required, along with supporting wider team-wide initiatives. • Support members on readiness for sustainability risk regulatory measures in coordination with UNEP FI’s policy team. • Ensure the Risk Centre work contributes to implementing the PRB, PSI, and assessing and managing sustainability risk, adjusting working group work plans and materials with suggestions for adapting them and contributing to the Risk Centre’s planning /scoping activities. • Ensure relevance for the financial sector on upcoming priorities in sustainability risks and consider how those topics might be integrated into current and future Risk Centre sessions or working groups. • Suggest potential sustainability risk-related partnerships or outputs that might be of benefit to UNEP FI and its members. • Suggest potential client engagement-related partnerships or outputs that might be of benefit to UNEP FI and its members. • Promote UNEP FI outputs and offerings online and at in-person events. Promote Risk Centre membership. • Provide input into the communications strategy and materials of UNEP FI to communicate the Risk Centre and Banking offerings to financial institutions’ risk teams. • Working with the Banking Team, support and provide strategic advice to the Client Engagement on Transition and Sustainability Worktrack aimed at helping PRB banks work responsibly with their clients to support them in transitioning towards net zero with nature-positive, inclusive and just outcomes. • Lead on building a network of practitioners, targeting front-office and client-facing roles inside PRB Banks, to champion Client Engagement on Sustainability across the sector. • Provide input into sectoral approaches to client engagement and identify opportunities to forge closer relationships with real economy associations and forums. • Participate in bilateral meetings with PRB banks on client engagement to gather insights into practice, challenges, and needs; and to promote and encourage participation in the Worktrack. • Work with UNEP FI Regional Leads to ensure that Risk Centre and Banking Client Engagement projects and outputs are appropriately responsive to regional contexts and member needs. • Working with the Risk Centre and Banking Team develop sectoral approaches to client engagement and sustainability risk management. • Follow a co-creation approach to develop practical and actionable tools, case studies, and technical guidance aligned with the PRB Guidance on Client Engagement Outputs and Deliverables: • A Roadmap and Blueprint for Sustainability Risk Integration • A Sustainability Risk Integration Framework • Guidance for risk managers in the role of risk management in the Responsible Banking Journey (RBJ) • Engagements with risk practitioners in members on sustainability risk integration and the role of risk management in the responsible banking • Project proposals for research on sustainability risk management integration. • Capacity building engagements and tools for UNEP FI members on sustainability risk integration, the role of risk management in the RBJ, and client engagement on transition and sustainability. • Coordination and alignment between the Risk Centre work and the Banking Work-track on Client Engagement. • Identify sustainability risk-related partnerships or outputs that might be of benefit to UNEP FI and its members. • Promote UNEP FI outputs and offerings online and at in-person events. • Promote Risk Centre membership. • Contribute to the communications strategy and materials of UNEP FI to communicate the Risk Centre and Banking offerings to financial institutions’ risk teams. • Develop a Business Case for Client Engagement on Transition and Sustainability that banks can use to build internal support with executives, boards, and client-facing teams. • Develop guidance and tools for Client Engagement on Transition and Sustainability that PRB banks can use to expand and deepen their support for and advice to their clients to support them in transitioning towards net zero with nature-positive, inclusive and just outcomes. • Build a network of practitioners, targeting chief sustainability officers, sustainable finance executives, and other client-facing roles inside PRB Banks, to champion Client Engagement on Transition and Sustainability across the sector. • Input into sectoral approaches to client engagement and identify opportunities to forge closer relationships with real economy associations and forums. • Identify and develop sectoral approaches to client engagement and sustainability risk management. • Participate in bilateral meetings with PRB banks on client engagement to gather insights into practice, challenges, and needs; and to promote and encourage participation in the Worktrack. • Work with UNEP FI Regional Leads to ensure that Risk Centre and Banking Client Engagement projects and outputs are appropriately responsive to regional contexts and member needs. • Co-create practical and actionable tools, case studies, and technical guidance aligned with the PRB Guidance on Client Engagement. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, and the Head of Banking, working in close coordination with UNEP FI’s Risk Centre consultants. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: A master’s degree in law, economics, finance, environmental studies, international relations, business administration or related fields is required. A bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree, provided the candidate has 9 years of experience. Professional Experience: A minimum of seven (7) 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 is required. 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 is required. Experience with data science and technology for advancing risk management is beneficial. LanguagesLanguages: English is the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset. Additional InformationSkills & 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.