UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Programme Analyst (Insurance)

Result of ServiceThe result of the services will be used to successfully support the Head of Insurance, PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair, the Programme Manager for Insurance, the wider UNEP FI insurance team, and the UNEP FI administration team on administrative matters, ensuring that PSI and FIT operations and activities are running smoothly and efficiently. Work LocationNairobi, Kenya Expected duration5 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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 Industry and 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 32 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. Established in 1972, 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 UN system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Founded in 1992, UNEP’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development. UNEP FI works with over 500 members—banks, insurers, and investors—and over 100 supporting institutions—to help create a financial sector that serves people and planet while delivering positive impacts. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance industry CEOs, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to address sustainability risks and opportunities—such as climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, pollution and social inequality—as risk managers, insurers and investors. The PSI is a global initiative to strengthen the insurance industry’s contribution to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Climate Agreement, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Developed by UNEP’s Finance Initiative, the PSI was launched at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and has led to the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the insurance industry, and the most extensive global network of insurance and stakeholder organizations committed to addressing sustainability challenges and opportunities. As of July 2025, nearly 300 organizations have joined the PSI, including insurers representing about one-third of world premium. The Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero (FIT) is a structured dialogue and multistakeholder platform led and convened by the United Nations to support the necessary acceleration and scaling up of voluntary climate action by the insurance industry and key stakeholders. The Convenor, Chair and Spokesperson of the FIT is UNEP, which provides and serves as the Secretariat. The FIT works with insurance market participants (e.g. insurers, reinsurers, re/insurance marketplaces, brokers) and engages with insurance regulators and supervisors, net-zero standard setters and initiatives, the scientific and academic community, civil society, and other key stakeholders (e.g. sustainability disclosure initiatives, real economy actors). At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Ministers of Finance (V20)—70 climate-vulnerable economies with a total population of 1.7 billion—launched the V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility (SIF). The SIF is a project pipeline facility to support the development and availability of climate-smart insurance solutions to help build resilient micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)—the economic backbone of climate-vulnerable developing countries. The SIF Project Office is hosted and managed by the PSI, and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ). Under the direction and supervision of the Head of Insurance, PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair, and working directly under the guidance of the Programme Manager for Insurance, the Individual Contractor will support the administration of PSI and FIT operations and activities. In doing so, the Individual Contractor will coordinate with the wider PSI/FIT/UNEP FI team, particularly the PSI Africa Implementation Officer, UNEP FI Communications Deputy Lead, UNEP FI Communications Lead for Insurance, FIT Coordinator (and other FIT roles in the future), V20-SIF Global Coordinator and Regional Coordinators (and other V20-SIF roles in the future), PSI Nature-Positive Insurance Manager and Nature-Positive Insurance Assistant, UNEP FI insurance team interns, and the UNEP FI administration team. As risk managers, insurers and investors, the insurance industry is uniquely positioned to promote economic, social and environmental sustainability—in other words, sustainable development. The four Principles for Sustainable Insurance, including a list of possible actions, provide a common aspiration and global framework for the insurance industry to manage sustainability issues, and to strengthen its contribution to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet. The Principles are structured according to the spheres of influence of an insurance company, from core business strategies and operations, through to business partners, governments, regulators and other key stakeholders. Furthermore, the Principles promote accountability and transparency. Insurance global work programme The Individual Contractor will perform tasks related to the administration of the insurance global work programme, which aims to contribute to achieving the PSI’s purpose and vision, and to implementing the UNEP FI strategy for 2022-2025. The work programme is structured around two fundamental pillars—1) Institutional Change, and 2) System Change—alongside daily activities related to PSI governance, operations and membership management. Pillar 1: Institutional Change This pillar aims to foster institutional change and is focused on supporting the adoption and implementation of the Principles for Sustainable Insurance. It is currently supported by the following activities: Key activities: • PSI Sustainable Insurance Learning & Development (SLED): Pilot with PSI African members • PSI Signatory Journey Tool (SIGN): Concept development Supplementary activities that the PSI can support and/or benefit from: • Regional/country insurance networks o PSI Canadian Insurance Industry Task Force established in 2019 o Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI) established in 2021 o Bogota Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (BDSI) established in 2024 Pillar 2: System Change This pillar aims to drive change in the insurance ecosystem by expanding knowledge on sustainability in insurance and developing initiatives that tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution, as well as objectives linked to the achievement of the SDGs. It is currently supported by the following activities: Key activities: • PSI Working Group for Nature • PSI-managed Vulnerable Twenty Group of Ministers of Finance (V20) Sustainable Insurance Facility (SIF) Supplementary activities that the PSI can support and/or benefit from: • Work of UNEP FI on Social Issues thematic (e.g. just transition) • Work of UNEP on just transition to a resilient net-zero economy (e.g. transition plans) • Work of UNEP FI on Pollution & Circular Economy thematic Specific tasks and responsibilities: Specifically, the Individual Contractor will carry out the following main duties and responsibilities: • Schedule various PSI and FIT meetings and events and support the preparation of materials, minutes and summary/outcome documents. • Support the preparation of materials related to the PSI Sustainable Insurance Training Programme (SIT), PSI Signatory Journey Guide (SIGN), FIT Knowledge Hub and relevant projects and activities. • Support the encoding of relevant PSI and FIT data/information in the UNEP FI database and UNEP FI work planning platform. • Administer applications by organizations seeking to become PSI signatories and supporters; and FIT participants, supporters, consultative group members and observers; and assist the UNEP FI administration/finance team with the invoicing process, as necessary • Schedule interviews with applicants for UNEP FI insurance team consultancies and internships and collate and summarise annual leaves of UNEP FI insurance team members in sharable files, and support with the preparation of materials to onboard consultants and interns recruited • Coordinate with the UNEP FI administration/finance team on legal agreements (e.g. donor agreements) and provide relevant information, as necessary The Individual Contractor shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and shall report to and be supervised directly by the Head of Insurance, PSI Programme Leader & FIT Chair. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. A university degree in administration, insurance, finance and economics or a related field is desirable. Work experience: At least one (1) year working experience within the UN system, government administration, non-governmental organizations, private sector and/or relevant organizations, with experience in administration, insurance and/or finance. Proficiency in the use of computers and standard Microsoft Office software (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience in using the UN’s Umoja system is an asset. LanguagesEnglish is the working language of the PSI and UNEP FI Secretariat, so oral and written fluency in English is required. Fluency in other languages, particularly official UN languages, is highly desirable. Additional InformationSpecial skills/knowledge: The Individual Contractor should have strong programme administration and coordination skills, excellent spoken and written communication skills; and should be able to cope with and manage heavy workloads, time pressure, and multiple and diverse projects and activities in an organized and timely manner. Attention to detail is essential. The Individual Contractor should be a team player and able to communicate and interact effectively with various internal and external stakeholders in the private and public sectors, across multiple cultural and professional backgrounds. The Individual Contractor should demonstrate the UN’s core values—integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity—at all times. No FeeTHE 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.