UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Climate Team Strategy Facilitator

Contract

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Result of Service

The consultant will assume a pivotal role in collating and strategically arranging the outcomes of the UNEP FI Climate-thematic team’s event sessions from 2024. The event held strategic importance, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective action within the team and with external stakeholders. • Strategic Planning and Design Phase Needs Assessment and Input Gathering: The consultant will engage in in-depth interviews with team members to elicit their perspectives, insights, and expectations. These interactions will inform the basis of the compilation of retreat outcomes, ensuring alignment with team goals and participant needs. Leadership Alignment: Regular consultations with team leadership will be conducted to report progress, seek guidance, and define the overarching strategy. The consultant’s ability to synthesize diverse viewpoints and steer discussions toward actionable outcomes will be critical during this phase. Participatory Methods: The consultant will employ participatory techniques, such as scenario planning, SWOT analysis, and collaborative problem-solving. These methods will stimulate creativity, enhance team cohesion, and promote a sense of ownership among participants. Outcome-Oriented Approach: The consultant’s facilitation will be purpose-driven. This will contribute to tangible outcomes, whether it’s refining team processes, identifying synergies, or co-creating action plans. • Reporting and Insights Comprehensive Report: The consultant will compile a detailed report. This document will encapsulate key findings, actionable recommendations, and strategic insights. It will serve as a roadmap for the team’s future endeavours. Continuous Improvement: The report’s insights will guide the team’s post-event actions. By implementing recommended changes, the team will enhance collaboration, streamline decision-making, and align efforts toward achieving shared objectives. As a result of the consultant’s services, the UNEP FI Climate-themed team will emerge better equipped to collaborate effectively, both internally and with external partners.

Work Location

Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration

1.5 month

Duties and Responsibilities

The 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 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 300 banks, insurers and investors. For over 28 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 Climate-themed team has grown rapidly in recent years and works as a global team across the world. With many new colleagues joining the team from different locations, there is a need for colleagues to meet face to face and for the team to coordinate its actions with a shared vision and purpose. To improve collaboration and synergies within the team and with external partners, the Climate Change team recently held an in-person retreat, where 50 team members and external partners met. We are looking for an experienced strategic facilitator to help us formulate and plan following the 2024 event, with effective outcomes and preparing functional leadership and expert advice paving the way for future events. Objectives and outputs expectations: • Objective 1: Collate session outcomes. o Output: Collation of workshops and discussions outcomes from the event. o Performance Indicator: Participant feedback and level of interactive engagement. • Objective 2: Provide a post-event report with actionable insights and recommendations for future improvements. o Output: A structured report detailing findings and action points. o Performance Indicator: Clarity, relevance, and practicality of the recommendations. • Objective 3: Enhance team collaboration and establish a framework for ongoing partnership with external stakeholders. o Output: A strategic collaboration plan with defined roles and communication channels. o Performance Indicator: Feedback from team members and partners. • Objective 4: Ensure all deliverables are submitted in a timely and professional manner. o Output: Timely submission of all required documents and reports. o Performance Indicator: Adherence to deadlines and quality standards of submissions. Note: All outputs should be delivered electronically, in PDF format, unless otherwise specified. Hard copies may be requested for key documents, to be delivered to the designated address. Specific tasks and responsibilities Tasks: - Develop a comprehensive strategy that aligns with the UNEP FI Climate-themed team’s objectives and goals. - Design and implement a detailed work plan, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation. - Conduct thorough needs assessments through interviews and surveys with team members and stakeholders. - Monitor progress, adjusting plans as necessary to meet objectives and address any challenges that arise. - Provide regular updates to the leadership team, including progress reports and any adjustments to the strategy or work plan. - Gather feedback from participants after the event to evaluate its success and identify areas for improvement. - Identify potential risks related to event execution (e.g., technical glitches, participant disengagement) - Prepare knowledge-sharing materials (e.g., summary reports, case studies) for wider dissemination within the organization. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, UNEP FI. The consultant will work closely with colleagues in the Climate Team.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic background – A bachelor’s degree in sustainability, environmental management, business administration, or a related field is required. Additional certifications in event management or facilitation are advantageous. Experience – At least 5 years’ experience in coordinating workshops, retreats, or conferences, particularly within cross-functional teams. A history of successful consultancy or advisory roles, especially in sustainability or climate-related initiatives, is highly desirable.

Languages

Languages – English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & knowledge – Adept at employing a variety of facilitation techniques, the consultant should be skilled in managing group dynamics and fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue and consensus-building. Strategic thinking is essential, as the consultant will align event objectives with the team’s broader goals. Superior communication skills are required for effective stakeholder engagement and clear, concise reporting.

No Fee

THE 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.