UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Consultant for Net Zero Banking Facility Proposal Development

Result of Service The ultimate result of the services is the effective and efficient delivery, implementation and coordination of the NZIA global work programme, in line with the PSI’s purpose to better understand, prevent and reduce environmental, social and governance risks, and better coordinate opportunities to provide quality and reliable risk protection; and the PSI’s vision of a risk aware world, where the insurance industry is trusted and plays its full role in enabling a healthy, safe, resilient and sustainable society.

Work Location Working remotely

Expected duration 12 months

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 400 banks, insurers, and investors. For over 29 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 carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.

This consultant is being hired to provide inputs, recommendations and review the development of a proposal for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that aims to implement the Net Zero Banking Facility (NZBF), which has the objective of support, strengthen and accelerate the implementation of banks’ decarbonisation strategies and put them on track to meet their commitments to a net-zero emissions portfolio, transform the markets where they operate and significantly grow the number of developing country banks in NZBA.

The specific objective of the consultancy:

Develop the proposal for the Net Zero Banking Facility and accompany the submission to the Green Climate Fund.

Specific tasks and responsibilities: Develop the proposal for the Net Zero Banking Facility to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund and oversee application process.

It is the consultant’s responsibility to: - Review the draft concept note, strategy and structure to best fit with the approaches of the Net Zero Alliances (NZBA, NZAOA (Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance), NZIA (Net-Zero Insurance Alliance), GFANZ (Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero) and the GCF. This includes a review of existing GCF projects, e.g., the Great Green Wall. - Oversee and review the consultation process with NZBA members, GCF Accredited Entities, other stakeholders and those financial institutions pertinent to the proposal for Net Zero Banking Facility - In an advisory capacity: - Review the business case for scaling of finance solutions, the transition, and the phase out of high emitting assets towards decarbonization of bank’s portfolios in developing countries. - Reach out to stakeholders as needed (e.g., NDAs, AEs, GCF Secretariat + Board Members, NDBs (National Development Banks), MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks), Banking Associations, SBTi (Science-Based Targets Initiative), PCAF (Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials) to ensure coherence with other ongoing pieces of work and that the appropriate scale is in place. - Review the Climate Rationale as per the GCF. - Review the Theory of Change as per the GCF. - Coordinate/Review the standardization of the technical assistance, development of capacity building mechanisms and tools. - Review the “Implementation Strategy” of the proposal to be submitted to the GCF. The outputs of this work will be included in the concept note, which will be submitted to the GCF.

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly the UNEP FI Programme Officer - Signatory Relations . The Consultant will also be seeking advice and direction from the UNEP FI Programme Officer - Climate

Qualifications/special skills Education: A Master’s degree is required, business, finance, environment, sustainability, administration, social studies or related area. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 9 years of relevant experience.

Professional experience: At least 7 years of experience in international organisations, the financial services sector, private sector or NGOs examining the intersection between sustainable development and finance.

Special skills/knowledge: The consultant should have knowledge of the development of proposals for projects in sustainable development and more specifically in climate finance with banks

Languages English is the working language of UNEP FI. English is mandatory for this consultancy. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.

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.