UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Social Specialist and project coordinator (labour and human rights)

Contract

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Result of Service

The role will include a focus on human rights and decent work, in alignment with climate and other environmental objectives. The consultant will work directly with the UNEP FI Social and Human Rights Lead, and in coordination with PRB Implementation Lead. The consultant will also work with UNEP FI members, UNEP FI thematic, industry and regional coordinators, to support the UNEP FI’s social and human rights lead in rolling out the strategy in such a way that supports the practical implementation of the PRB by members, aligned with relevant UN frameworks including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The social and human rights strategy and work plan should be implemented in accordance with UNEP FI’s overarching strategy and the industry frameworks, in line with UNEP FI’s work programme agreed at UNEP FI’s Annual General Meeting and UNEP’s project document for UNEP FI.

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 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 31 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.

On 22nd September 2019, UNEP FI member banks representing USD 47 trillion and with that over a third of the global banking industry officially signed and launched the Principles for Responsible Banking together with UN Secretary General Guterres. The Principles for Responsible Banking guide the change towards a new, sustainable global banking industry that takes on a key role in helping society to achieve its goals for a sustainable future. With these Principles, banks commit to strategically align their business with and scale up their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate. The Principles are supported by a strong implementation framework that defines clear accountabilities and requires each bank to set, publish and work towards ambitious targets and report publicly on their positive and negative impacts and progress in implementing their commitments. Banks that are not in line with their commitments can be removed from the list of signatories. UNEP FI works with members and partners to embed social and human rights into mainstream finance. The Social and Human Rights team supports the work of UNEP FI by ensuring alignment with the three core values of the United Nations — human rights, inclusion, and gender equality.

UNEP FI requires a social specialist to support the implementation of UNEP FI’s social and human rights strategy, mainly focusing on the banking sector, with a focus on human rights and decent employment.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

The consultant will provide assistance in the following project/tasks for UNEP FI’s social issues work:

• Support the implementation of UNEP FI social and human rights strategy and work plan, including a focus on human rights, engaging with work stream leads, members as well as other stakeholders in the planning and implementation. • Provide inputs and operational support in the delivery of UNEP FI’s strategy and work plan for 2024 , supporting Principles for Responsible Banking signatories in implementing human rights practices, in close collaboration with the Banking Team particularly work on Human Rights and decent work • Lead the development of guidance for banks on setting and implementing targets on decent work, by coordinating with PRB signatories and co-developing the guidance in line with the PRB framework, together with colleagues from banking and thematic teams. • Support the delivery of industry, thematic and regional activities from a social issues and human rights perspective. • Support UNEP FI communication, to provide content on social issues, human rights and decent work as relevant for finance through newsletter, targeted member communication, industry and regional calls, etc. • Coordinate and maintain the UNEP FI Human Rights Community of practice. • Support the delivery of a human rights resource kit for banks, on their alignment with UNGPs. • Support UNEP’s Social and Human Rights lead to build and maintain strategic partnerships with key

Outputs and Deliverables:

• PRB target setting guidance for banks on setting and implementing targets on decent work. • Resource kit on how banks can get aligned with the UNGPs • Global and regional workshops/webinars/peer exchanges delivered on human rights and decent work. • Meetings with the UNEP FI Human Rights Community of practice delivered.

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, working in close coordination with UNEP FI’s the Banking and Social teams.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Master’s degree in social, development, law, or/and economic studies field, or equivalent. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 7 years of relevant experience.

Professional Experience: At least five (5) years of professional experience and expertise in Social and Human Rights matters. At least 3 years of professional experience and expertise in/with the financial sector or the sustainability area. Work on the implementation of the UNGPs in the context of Financial Institutions will be an asset. Work on the area of labour rights and/or decent work is an asset.

Languages

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

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: Substantial experience (min. 5 years) and expertise in Human Rights and Social impacts, and how it is connected to environmental impacts, and experience in working with private/public sector entities on how to address negative and increase positive impact. General understanding of how banks’ business activities relate to and influence environmental and social outcomes. Well, acquainted with current issues and developments related to sustainable banking globally and regionally.

Experience in working with human rights and labour specific aspects of financial institutions. Specific knowledge of the UNGPs, labour rights and decent work in the context of Financial Institutions will be an advantage.

Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, strong interpersonal skills. Project management skills and theability to cope with juggling multiple tasks across diverse projects in an organized and timely manner; attention to detail. The consultant should have the ability to establish and maintain good working relations in a multicultural and geographically dispersed team working across functions. A hands-on, pragmatic approach is desirable.

Reliable and delivers consistently high quality within agreed timeframes. Colleagues, external partners and constituents/clients trust the candidate because follows through on commitments towards others. Team player understands work as contributing to an overall objective, not an end in itself. Can adapt behaviour and style of communication to different cultural contexts. Motivated and driven by the purpose the team/organization is working towards and the impacts they are trying to achieve.

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.