UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Restoration Explorer Project Support

Result of Service The consultant is required to support the development and implementation of restorative investment tools and guidelines in the context of the Restoration Initiative and the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration. These activities will have to be conducted in close alignment with the overall program of work of the Initiative and the Multi Partner Trust Fund.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 2 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 450 banks, insurers, and investors. For 30 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.

UNEP FI and GEF6 ‘The Restoration Initiative’/UN Decade Flagships UNEP FI actively contributes to the design and implementation of solutions to proactively help unlock and (re)direct public and private capital towards sustainable land use, including deforestation-free soft commodity production, stimulate land restoration and sustainable forest management. As part of its mandate, it contributes its finance expertise to the Restoration Initiative, a GEF 6 project that aims to scale restorative practices in line with the goals of the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration by providing technical and strategic expertise to help unlock public and private finance to scale restoration interventions.

In its capacity of executing agency and in close collaboration with the Implementing Agency, UNEP Ecosystem Division, UNEP FI implements the third component of the project ‘Global Learning, Finance and Partnership project under the Restoration Initiative (TRI) – Financing Tools, Models and Partnerships’, which includes 2 outcomes and 5 outputs. Under Outcome 1, ‘Improved in-country knowledge on needs, opportunities, barriers and solutions, and enhanced capacity for mobilizing sustainable finance for FLR’, UNEP FI is committed to delivering three outputs: - Output 3.1.1: Development/Utilization of an Enabling Investments Rapid Diagnostic Tool (The Restoration Factory) - Output 3.1.2: Capacity building program of FLR finance for TRI countries - Output 3.1.3: Resource for tracking public/private funding for restoration in TRI countries

These Terms of Reference cover the second output.

Project Consultant role

UNEP FI is looking for a consultant to perform a number of specialized tasks that contribute to the dissemination and uptake of the Restoration Explorer and the Restoration Factory and hence, to achieving key objectives of the Restoration Initiative project and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Key tasks and responsibilities under this project include, but are not limited to: - The consultant will support the development and implementation of restorative investment tools and guidelines in the context of the Restoration Initiative and the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration’s MPTF. This will include the implementation of the pilot phase in selected countries under TRI and selected UN Decade Flagships; - The consultant will support the facilitation of capacity development workshops (Explorer and Restoration Factory) with the child projects under TRI and the selected Flagship countries under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration - The consultant will provide inputs to improve the effectiveness and impact potential of future versions of the tools.

Objectives, output expectations:

Under the direct supervision of the UNEP FI Restoration Initiative Lead the consultant will carry out the following project tasks for UNEP FI:

• The consultant will support the development and implementation of restorative investment tools and guidelines in the context of the Restoration Initiative. This will include the implementation of the pilot phase in selected countries under TRI;
• The consultant will support the facilitation of capacity development workshops (Explorer and Restoration Factory) with the child projects under TRI;
• The consultant will provide inputs to improve the effectiveness and impact potential of future versions of the tools ;
• Support organization of TRI side events during planned regional/global meetings;
• Liaise with TRI child projects to respond to technical support request on a need basis and liaise with FAO colleagues for potential support under the TRI Global component.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

Under the technical supervision of the CFU's Market Development team Lead and the overall guidance of the Head of the Climate Finance Unit, the consultant will:

- The consultant will support the facilitation and utilization of restoration investment and tracking tools in the context of the Restoration Initiative and the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration's MPTF. This includes supporting discussion and facilitation to project partners ; - The consultant support the implementation of the pilot phase in selected countries; - The consultant will contribute recommendations for the integration of the Explorer/Factory/marketplace in the suite of solutions offered by the unit to stimulate restoration market development; - The consultant will provide inputs to improve the effectiveness and impact potential of future versions of the tool;

Outputs and Deliverables:

• Regular progress briefs containing details of the pilot phase implementation;
• Evaluation report documenting the implementation of the tools/approaches and proposing recommendations for amelioration, using guidance and structure from the M&E framework;
• Brief with recommendations for the inclusion of the Restoration Explorer in the program of intervention of CFU focused on restorative business development;
• Ad hoc presentations and communications to highlight the tool as needed;

Meanwhile the consultant will:

• Prepare monthly activity reports.

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP Finance Initiative and report directly to the Restoration Initiative Lead Coordinator for UNEP FI, Climate Finance Unit, UNEP.

Qualifications/special skills Education: The consultant should have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Environmental Resources and Management or another relevant background.

Professional Experience: The position is open to candidates with a minimum of five (5) years of formal professional experience linked to providing capacity development support on restoration-focused themes.

Special skills/knowledge: The consultant should ideally have previous experience contributing to decision-support solutions in a relevant research field and ideally some exposure to the fields of restoration economics and restoration business development. In addition, he/she should be autonomous and computer literate in standard software applications; have excellent communication skills; an interest in the topic of restoration economics, sustainable land use and green finance; have good interpersonal skills. Although, he or she will work in a small team, it is essential that the chosen candidate can work in an independent manner to complete the given assignments.

Languages Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required.

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.