UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) CSRD/ESRS regulatory expert and policy engagement consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Through these services the Initiative will be able to engage a broad range of financial institutions, regulators and other relevant stakeholders to aid with an appropriate roll-out of UNEP FI’s regional and policy work programmes. UNEP FI’s work in embedding further actions on regulatory implementation in complement with its work in guiding principles and norms as well as framework development will enable member institutions to be better positioned to comply with both their voluntary and mandatory requirements on sustainability stemming from UNEP FI and EU regulation. In addition, the sessions that will be developed will enable UNEP FI to convene and gain knowledge stemming from key experts in their fields. Finally, the convening of the global policy forum will enable UNEP FI to become a critical enabler of dialogue between banks pushing forward in their sustainability commitments and the regulators that evaluate, supervise and set the regulatory rules that the same institutions need to comply with.The services will also help promote sustainability into all aspects of the financial sector’s operations and services. Finally, the services will help the Initiative to broaden its outreach both within UNEP / UN and external to banks, insurers and investors, governments, regulators, private sector and multi-stakeholders, including supporting institutions.

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 a unique global partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works closely with over 500 financial institutions that are members of the initiative, and a range of stakeholders to mobilise financing to address the nature, climate and pollution crises. Regulatory developments globally, have fundamentally shaped the approaches of financial institutions to the integration of sustainability considerations and commitments. This is becoming important across the globe, and critical interactions between financial institutions and regulators are needed to move the needle forward. More than 50% of UNEP FI’s members are based in Europe, with the majority of them being based in the EU. The EU sustainable finance regulatory regime impacts not only EU and EEA member banks, but it also has extraterritorial implications that have made many banks globally critically preoccupied with complying with key regulations as a top priority. Given this junction, UNEP FI has decided to dedicate key efforts across teams led by the European policy team in order to support UNEP FI banking members in their implementation efforts with key EU regulations, commencing with the CSRD/ESRS, but not limited to it with possible further actions to be undertaken on other relevant pieces of regulation, such as the EU Taxonomy or the Pillar 3 ESG risks disclosure requirements, etc. In addition, as to enable global high-level discussion of regulatory components, we aim to build a global policy forum that enables discussions between FIs and regulators on key regulatory trends and other topics of importance for achieving society’s goals. Under the oversight of the UNEP FI Europe coordinator and under the policy and regional work programmes, the consultant will focus on the tasks highlighted below, preparing and delivering relevant content for the regulatory implementation support sessions on CSRD/ESRS, liaising and engaging with the banks as well as coordinating with the banking, climate & impact teams as well as other relevant colleagues within UNEP FI and external stakeholders on the content and concrete delivery of the regulatory implementation support sessions, as well as on the establishment of a global policy forum between regulators and banks: • CSRD/ESRS regulatory implementation support (other pieces of regulation TBD) • Capacity building necessities mapping on policy for members implementing regulation • Content elaboration for the sessions in collaboration with UNEP FI relevant teams and external stakeholders (if any). • Make clear connections between UNEP FI initiatives and regulation, including regarding new development in nascent areas • Connecting the dots with relevant policy & related capacity building initiatives of UNEP FI • Elaboration, drafting and delivery in coordination with relevant stakeholders of end-point materials • Possible preparation and further planning of other regulatory implementation support sessions • Connecting the capabilities, expectations and delivery of our frameworks with regulation. • Establish a global policy forum of exchange between UNEP FI member financial institutions and financial regulators to discuss key sustainable finance policy trends, developments, synergies and points of contact. • Work with UNEP FI teams to map gaps and improvement areas to align our UNEP FI guidance and regulations • Recommend provisions to UNEP FI teams of key insights to be implemented within UNEP FI frameworks • Drafting, writing and publishing key documents and reports (internal and public) summarising the findings and results of the work Objectives • Deliver a module-based regulatory implementation support sessions with UNEP FI banking members. • Undertake relevant research, drafting and content elaboration of the work related to this support programme with members. This may include albeit not limited to: o Discussing with relevant internal and external stakeholders the key components of the work o Capacity building necessities mapping on policy for members implementing regulation o Content elaboration in coordination with relevant teams and external stakeholders (if any) o Map gaps and provide recommendations to UNEP FI across teams • Manage the delivery of the implementation support sessions, ensuring European members and members needing to implement relevant regulatory provisions receive relevant insights • Ellaborate inputs into the programme and manage the final outcomes, including the integration of relevant UNEP FI characteristics into the modules with relevant colleagues as well as other capacity building programmes of UNEP FI • Support membership awareness related to the European policy priorities and the critical engagement with members for these sessions • Support relevant communications related to the programme • Support expansion of the programme on a needs basis • Publication of key documents and reports summarising the findings and results of the work • Establishment of a global policy forum of exchange between financial institutions and financial regulators for strategic exchange on sustainable finance regulatory developments and trends. Specific tasks and responsibilities As CSRD/ESRS regulatory expert and policy engagement consultant, the candidate will undertake the following tasks: • Planning, content drafting, oversight and delivery of the regulatory implementation support sessions: between 5-10 modules composed of specific sub-activities tackling key issues related to credit institutions’ implementation of the CSRD/ESRS • Undertake relevant research, drafting and content elaboration of the work related to this support programme with members related to the insights that internal and external stakeholders might hold. Including consultants, NGOs… • Undertake relevant research, identification, drafting and elaboration of the capacity building necessities mapping on policy for members implementing the key regulatory elements identified as relevant in the modules and sub-activities • Lead the content elaboration and collaboration with relevant teams and implementing external stakeholders • Manage the overall delivery of the implementation support sessions, ensuring European members and non-European members needing to implement relevant regulatory provisions receive relevant insights • Liaise with members and regulators with regards to the establishment of a global policy forum for exchanging views on sustainable finance regulation trends. This includes format, structure, frequency of meetings, etc. • Coordinate inputs into the programme and manage the final outcomes, including the integration of relevant UNEP FI characteristics into the modules with relevant colleagues as well as other capacity building programmes of UNEP FI • Support membership awareness related to the European policy priorities and the critical engagement with members for these sessions with key coordination with the European policy team • Drafting, writing and publishing key documents and reports (internal and public) summarising the findings and results of the work • Support relevant communications related to the programme – producing relevant materials, arranging the session delivery as well as planning with relevant communications contacts. • Produce as relevant key recommendations or end-point materials to support the outreach and promotion of results. • Support expansion of the programme on a needs basis, including researching key issues for implementation on other regulatory pieces, this can include surveying members, etc. • Overall coordination with relevant colleagues working on these topics across teams. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Membership & Regional Coordination Manager and the Global Policy Lead working directly with the European Regional Coordinator.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, finance or related relevant subjects required. A master’s degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 3 years of relevant experience. Professional Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience of working with the financial services sector with critical knowledge and experience in sustainable finance regulation is needed (experience in regulatory and standard implementation also desirable). Previous experience in membership-based organisations / policymaking and regulatory bodies / consultancy is highly desirable.

Languages

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. English is the working language of UNEP FI. For this position, professional English, writing and editing skills are required. Fluency in other languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: • Expertise in sustainable finance regulation is critical. • Experience in sustainable finance regulatory implementation is highly desirable. • High ability to elaborate content, plan, deliver and manage projects and events of high calibre with demanding deadlines and challenging subjects is highly desirable • Ability to translate new and diverse ideas and concepts into tangible outcomes.

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.