UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Training and Accreditation Assistant

Result of Service Through these services the Initiative will be able to engage a broad range of financial institutions, including commercial banks, retail banks, insurers, and multi-lateral development banks and agencies in implementing global finance sector principles to catalyze integration of sustainability into financial market practice. The frameworks UNEP FI is supporting the implementation of include Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) now committed to by more than 270 banks collectively holding USD 53 trillion in assets, or one third of the global banking sector, and the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), established 2012 by UNEP FI and today applied by one-quarter of the world’s insurers (25% of world premium).

The consultant will also work with banks and insurers to support the project management of the training development and delivery to support banks’ capacity building in responsible banking across the key job functions within institutions.

The outcomes of the services will be to strengthen the UNEP FI implementation support for the industry frameworks, helping the banking and insurance industries to integrate sustainability into products and services and implement the Principles for Responsible Banking.

The services will also help promote sustainability into all aspects of the financial sector’s products and services 1) developing materials to enable banks to mobilize private investment in the SDGs in order to improve the access of developing countries to sustainable finance, especially in least developed countries and small island developing states; 2) supporting the development of a curriculum and syllabus to deliver technical educational support for financial institutions to establish the systems needed to monitor the impacts of their financing and, with these systems in place, to set and deliver targets in priority areas; 3) support the project management of the implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking Academy.

Work Location Working Remotely.

Expected duration The duration of the contract 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 a strategic public-private partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with approximately 400 financial institutions, which are signatories to the UNEP FI Statements of Environmental Commitment, and a range of partners and organisations, to develop and promote linkages between the environment, sustainability, and financial performance. Through its working groups and regional activities, comprehensive work programme, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realise the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution strategies and operations.

UNEP FI requires a Training and Accreditation Assistant consultant to support the Training Project Manager for the Principles for Responsible Banking Academy and the implementation of its training strategy, which is designed to support implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking. The consultant will support the implementation of UNEP FI’s training strategy through contributing to the development of a curriculum and training syllabus for responsible banking. The consultant will support the training department and training development for capacity building on implementation of Principles for Responsible Banking, working with consultants to develop and adapt materials for pedagogical formats across learning channels (through workshops, partnerships, online and third-party internal training). The consultant will support the project management of the development of the Principles for Responsible Banking Academy, alongside the Training Project Manager, key stakeholders, and partners. The consultant will work on coordination with UNEP FI’s Secretariat to achieve UNEP FI’s mission to accelerate the development of financial institutions that integrate sustainability and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Objectives and outputs expectations:

1. Support the Training Project Manager in coordinating the development of contents and materials for regional capacity building, learning formats and diverse education channels

2. Support the development of learning materials and case studies on impact analysis, target setting and SDG product development/measures to implement targets for banks and insurers, coordinating with UNEP FI’s technical experts, training and regional coordination teams

3. Support the development of a curriculum and subsidiary syllabuses to deliver UNEP FI’s training strategy to support PRB implementation (e.g., first steps for PRB implementation, impact analysis, climate targets)

4. Support the development of a curriculum and training syllabus for training consulted on externally (banks and relevant stakeholders)

5. Support the project management of the establishment of a Principles for Responsible Banking Academy and development of required training

6. Support consultation of and piloting of training for banks on PRB implementation to align portfolios with the SDGs and ensure capacity building is scaled up and the SDG Agenda is mainstreamed in the financial sector, and materials with case study examples updated as necessary to maximize impact

Performance indicators:

· Learning materials developed

· Workshops successfully delivered, pre/post-workshop data recorded and analyzed

· Number of banks involved in the PRBA training pilot

· Training pilot and overall project evaluation completed and reported on to the donor

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

Specifically, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

· Overall ad-hoc admin support for the Principles for Responsible Banking Academy project: internal and external project tasks and milestones delivery

· Proofreading documents such as draft proposals, project plan updates, training content, workshop presentations etc.

· Taking minutes during the recurring internal and external meetings and following up on action points.

· Scheduling internal and external meetings/workshops/webinars, pre- and post-meeting administrative support (follow-up; obtaining and analysing meeting/workshop data; compiling feedback)

· Coordinate PRBA Curriculum Committee, Steering Committee and stakeholder engagement

· Administrative support with drafting different types of reports for the Academy

· Data management – enrolments for PRBA – working with fees and figures, producing and editing reports on that data; collating data: obtaining training feedback and reporting on PRBA success and improvement plan/progress

· Support with project budget management – supporting the Training Project Manager in liaising with UNEP FI Secretariat to ensure that the project expenditure is documented, tracked, and reported on to the donor in a timely and correct manner.

· PRBA partnerships and accreditation – after the Academy is launched in the autumn 2022, take ownership of the process and administrative tasks involved in the partner accreditation process

· Support the Training Project Manager in mapping and accrediting existing education and training programmes against the PRBA Framework and syllabi, keeping records of training partners, conducting the initial partner due diligence and engagement

· Customer Support: after PRBA is launched, providing help via email with login issues, training queries, other as needed

· PRBA eLearning platform testing and feedback (internal/external) – support

· Liaising with UNEP FI internal teams and external partners

· Support with grant applications/seeking funding, tendering, consultant recruitment (internal/external)

· Support the piloting of training for banks on PRB implementation to align portfolios with the SDGs and ensure capacity building is scaled up

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, UNEP FI. The consultant will with closely with colleagues in the Training, Banking, Communications and Digital teams.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: Knowledge and skills developed in an education and/or training in a financial services environment; proven relationship management skills, knowledge in the field of sustainable finance; knowledge/experience of the banking, insurance and/or investment industries; ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a diplomatic, organised and timely manner; excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, ability to be proactive and work independently.

Academic Qualifications: Bachelors’ Degree in sustainability or environment, finance, banking, economics, education, professional training and development, communications, or related fields.

Experience: At least 3 years’ experience in education and/or training delivery to finance professionals, with a particular exposure to project management and training development. The candidate should also have experience of Partnership development, online education programmes and course development to address the learning needs of financial institutions.

Language: English is the working language of UNEP FI. 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.