UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – TNFD Project and Technical Manager

Result of Service The final outputs of this assignment are:

• To support to support the establishment of a Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) to develop and disseminate a global framework for corporates and financial institutions to assess, manage and report on their dependencies and impacts on nature.

• To support the successful realization of the GEF project ‘Establishing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)’.

  Work Location Work remotely

  Expected duration The expected duration of this consultancy is for 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 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 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 is looking for a project manager for the GEF funded project ‘Establishing a Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures’ (TNFD) (40% time) and technical manager (40% time) for the same. The advertised role is a temporary position which will be recruited to support the GEF project and coordinate the TNFD technical development. This position cannot be filled by existing UNEP FI staff, and requires specific knowledge that needs to be recruited externally.

Project manager GEF (40% time) UNEP FI is the executing agency for the GEF project and as such the manager is expected to: A. prepare the overall project workplan; B. prepare annual budgets and work plans; C. manage project expenditure in line with outputs and activities; (iv) D. ensure technical quality of products, outputs and deliverables; (v) E. produce quarterly expenditure and cash advance requests from project partners; (vi) F. report to the project Steering Committee and the WWF GEF Agency on project delivering and impact via six-month and yearly Progress Reports.

The work of the project manager is expected to be support by a finance associate.

Technical manager GEF (40% time) UNEP is part of the Stewardship group of the TNFD, and as such the manager is expected to: A. Support together with the technical expert group the development of the TNFD Framework. B. Support the development of practical templates, tools and support that corporates and FIs can use to facilitate adoption. C. Support the testing phase of the TNFD framework D. Represent the work of TNFD externally if needed.

Objectives: - To support to support the establishment of a Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) to develop and disseminate a global framework for corporates and financial institutions to assess, manage and report on their dependencies and impacts on nature. - To support the successful realization of the GEF project ‘Establishing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)’.

Output expectations: - Outcome 1.1.A plan for the TNFD is supported by the IWG and funded and the TNFD is established. - Outcome 2.1. Increased understanding in the financial and corporate sector of nature-related risk and how to identify impacts and dependencies on nature. - Outcome 2.2. A draft framework for companies to report to investors on their nature related risks, to improve and standardize reporting in the sector. - Outcome 3.1. Verification and broad support for the TNFD framework from FIs, companies, regulators and their stakeholders. - Outcome 3.2. Increased awareness of nature-related impacts and financial risks among financial institutions and companies. - Outcome 4.1: Increased uptake of TNFD knowledge and communication amongst stakeholders - Outcome 4.2: Monitoring and evaluation system in place with active adaptive management in place

Specific tasks and responsibilities: - Support UNEP FI coordination with partners in the TNFD Secretariat, lead coordination of the GEF project including coordination of the work of the project associate and technical coordinator, coordinate partnerships for donor-funded activities in particular the pilot work with GC and the research work by WCMC, participate in TNFD pilot working group. - Step 1: Develop testing plan based on the suggestion of WG5, Step 2 Conduct testing with relevant stakeholders with a focus on key sectors - and related meetings including the release of the BETA framework, and provide meeting reports where relevant, inform communications team of plans for events, launches, news releases etc. - Organize a webinar with GC around the concept of proof/soy pilot. - Coordinate to conduct a user survey among the TNFD stakeholders to better understand the market needs, gaps and areas that will require support to enhance uptake. - Coordinate to develop purpose, objective, output and outcome, including classification of definitions using the TNFD Scope and Principles as a foundation. - Develop Stakeholder engagement plan: Stakeholder mapping and a summary of how different stakeholders will be engaged. Re-define Gender Action plan. - Coordinate to create study of current state of development of frameworks, standards, guidance, metrics, data, risk management, stress tests, tools and key practices to inform decisions on nature-related risks and dependencies across private and public sector. - Coordinate to create an inventory of existing tools in use and their application, linking to existing initiatives such as Align and Transparent project (Capitals Coalition). - Coordinate to create an overview of upcoming and existing regulatory frameworks such as EU SFRD regulation, French ‘LEC’ law, upcoming EU taxonomy and the NGFS. Coordinate the synthesis of evidence based on the materiality of nature-related financial risks. - First quarterly financial report to the GEF delivered. Financial report to MTPF. - Publication of the WCMC work, Nature-risk Industry Report: identifying and quantifying main risks and dependencies on nature across 10 high-risk industries. - Country Nature-Related Data Analysis: Part A: a series of 5 country case-studies analyzing quality and availability of nature-related data for financial decision making; and Part B: high-level recommendations on data governance and architecture for better adoption of the TNFD framework. - Corporate Market Readiness Report: An overview of how nature-related risks and opportunities are currently incorporated within the corporate market, based on 10 to 15 illustrative case-studies, as per the example of the Financial Market Readiness Report. - Organize a ‘Friends of TNFD’ dialogue with select governments who champion nature-positive finance, together with UNDP and others. - Second quarterly financial report to the GEF delivered. Organize an event together with the Finance for Biodiversity pledge to look at the linkage between developments in the regulatory space and the TNFD development. Hold 2nd GEF PSC meeting. Conduct 6-month PPR -project progress report- for GEF project. - Support Step 3: under the pilot testing process - Summarize conclusions from testing process. Third quarterly financial report to the GEF delivered. - Fourth quarterly financial report to the GEF delivered. Hold 3rd GEF PSC meeting. Conduct 1 Year PPR – project progress report.

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head UNEP FI and report directly to the Ecosystems Programme Manager in UNEP FI Administration Unit.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: - The candidate should have proven ability to manage multiple projects and activities simultaneously and in an organized and timely manner. He/she should be an experienced program manager with experience working across cultures and with a broad range of stakeholders. - He or she should be able to work independently and have strong problem-solving abilities. He/she should be experienced in coordinating the team around the world. - Furthermore, the candidate should have a track record of delivering consistently high-quality outputs as well as strong analytical and conceptual skills. - Research/writing skills are desirable. - Expertise in nature and/or ecosystems is required, with a proven track record in conservation. - Expertise and understanding of the nature/finance nexus. - The candidate should have the ability to manage stakeholder relationships and drive collaboration. - The candidate should have experience working/developing global standards for sustainability and should be able to link this to the relevant network. - The consultant will have the ability to prioritize, identify and capture opportunities to add value to the work programme and engage financial institutions in the initiative. - Ability to build good working relationships at all levels is desirable. Understanding the role and functions of a Secretariat to a partnership is desirable. Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the technical work of UNEP and UNEP FI around ecosystems and finance are added advantages.

Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international affairs, economics, environmental studies, economics, finance, environment/ ocean-based science, sustainability, business, marine economy-related development or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: - A minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in the area of sustainable finance. - Experience working with banks and /or insurers and/or investors is required. - The candidate should have successfully coordinated complex and, ideally, multi-stakeholder, projects. - Experience with Global Environment Facility projects an asset.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is a requirement.

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.