UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Senior Consultant

Result of ServiceThrough these services, the Consultant should be able to contribute to delivering the following. In summary: • Develop overarching approaches aligned with the Principles for Responsible Banking to support science-based sustainability risk integration in the banking sector, contributing to technical guidance materials on integrating climate, nature, and sustainability risks into banking sector risk frameworks, in consultation with stakeholders and in coordination with thematic and industry teams. • Support development of integrated approach to sustainability in risk management to facilitate uptake of knowledge/tools developed under thematic projects delivered through the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s 2025–2026 workplan’s Advanced Research Programme and broader risk management initiatives to support the UNEP FI mission. • Contribute expert advice on risk-related outputs and help capacity building for UNEP FI members and upskill junior Risk Centre staff on risk management topics. • Identify partnerships with NGOs, academia, research bodies, and commercial institutions to enhance the Risk Centre’s offerings and to benefit UNEP FI and its members. • Work with the Risk Lead to align the Risk Centre activities with the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), and emerging environmental and social risk priorities. • Ensure emerging risk topics are reflected in current and future research groups, sessions, and planning. • Promote and present relevant outputs as needed while contributing to UNEP FI’s overall communication strategy. Work LocationWorking remotely / Home based Expected duration3 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. UNEP FI helps align private finance with sustainable development by engaging financial institutions committed to implementing leading industry sustainability frameworks – the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), Net-Zero Alliances for banks and asset owners (together with the Principles for Responsible Investment), and a multistakeholder Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero (FIT). UNEP FI’s Risk Centre provides financial institutions with research into emerging approaches and tools to assess, manage and report on sustainability risks in areas such as climate change, nature loss, pollution and social issues. UNEP FI’s Risk Centre provides UNEP FI members with insights and enhances capabilities for risk assessment and disclosure and provides opportunities to explore technical risk-related topics with experts, regulators, modelers, data providers and peers. Tailored for financial risk professionals, this hub builds on UNEP FI’s long-running climate and nature risk programmes. The Centre offers resources, technical skill-building workshops and working groups that develop cutting-edge risk management resources. The team also supports UNEP FI members on operationalising industry sustainability frameworks and readiness for regulatory measures on sustainability risk. To meet the growing momentum on environmental risk, UNEP is scaling up programming on climate risks, nature risks, and other emerging sustainability risks such as social and pollution. This work is undertaken under a Risk Centre to provide UNEP FI members with state-of-the-art knowledge and convening space for peers and leading partner organisations to ensure they can act with the best available, science-based information. To that effect, UNEP FI requires a consultant to provide support to UNEP FI’s risk programme to develop and deliver projects, engage stakeholders and support UNEP FI on risk integration across industry and thematic workstreams. The Consultant should have a proven track record supporting international programmes involving different stakeholder types, particularly financial organisations, and with a particular focus on sustainable finance and climate risks. Objectives: Objective 1: Develop overarching approaches aligned with the Principles for Responsible Banking to support science-based sustainability risk integration in the banking sector, contributing to technical guidance materials on integrating climate, nature, and sustainability risks into banking sector risk frameworks, in consultation with stakeholders and in coordination with thematic and industry teams. Objective 2: Support development of integrated approach to sustainability in risk management to facilitate uptake of knowledge/tools developed under thematic projects delivered through the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s 2025–2026 workplan’s Advanced Research Programme and broader risk management initiatives to support the UNEP FI mission. Objective 3: Contribute expert advice on risk-related outputs and help capacity building for UNEP FI members and upskill junior Risk Centre staff on risk management topics. Objective 4: Identify partnerships with NGOs, academia, research bodies, and commercial institutions to enhance the Risk Centre’s offerings and to benefit UNEP FI and its members. Objective 5: Align the Risk Centre activities with the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), and emerging environmental and social risk priorities. Objective 6: Ensure emerging risk topics are reflected in current and future research groups, sessions, and planning. Specific tasks and responsibilities: • Develop overarching approaches aligned with the Principles for Responsible Banking to support science-based sustainability risk integration in the banking sector, contributing to technical guidance materials on integrating climate, nature, and sustainability risks into banking sector risk frameworks, in consultation with stakeholders and in coordination with thematic and industry teams. • Support development of integrated approach to sustainability in risk management to facilitate uptake of knowledge/tools developed under thematic projects delivered through the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s 2025–2026 workplan’s Advanced Research Programme and broader risk management initiatives to support the UNEP FI mission. • Contribute expert advice on risk-related outputs and help capacity building for UNEP FI members and upskill junior Risk Centre staff on risk management topics. • Identify partnerships with NGOs, academia, research bodies, and commercial institutions to enhance the Risk Centre’s offerings and to benefit UNEP FI and its members. • Work with the Risk Lead to align the Risk Centre activities with the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), and emerging environmental and social risk priorities. • Ensure emerging risk topics are reflected in current and future research groups, sessions, and planning. • Promote and present relevant outputs as needed while contributing to UNEP FI’s overall communication strategy. • Deliver support to financial institutions participating in the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s Advanced Research programme, as required. • Provide support and expert advice on the projects in the 2025-2026 workplan of the Risk Centre as it relates to the banking sector. • Support risk-related capacity building of UNEP FI members and help upskill junior staff within the Risk Centre on risk management-related topics as required. • Support the delivery of risk management guidance and capacity building initiatives and supporting material as required, along with supporting broader team-wide initiatives. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision the Head of UNEP FI, report directly to the Programme Management Officer (Deputy Head), UNEP FI. Qualifications/special skillsEducation: A bachelor’s degree in risk management, insurance, finance, law, economics, environmental studies, international relations, business administration or related fields. A master’s degree may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, provided the candidate has 8 years of related experience. Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the banking sector and/or broader financial services sector, law, environmental science, commercial consulting, data analytics or applied academic research on risk management, sustainable insurance, and/or responsible banking. This experience should be relevant for examining, assessment, management and disclosure of climate and wider sustainability-related risks. It should specifically cover the role of the banking sector in managing sustainability issues relevant to risk management. Ideally, the consultant will have experience with data-related issues (including AI tools) and methodologies for advancing risk management, as well as in-depth experience working within or with the banking sector. LanguagesLanguages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset. Additional InformationSkills & Knowledge: The Consultant should have a proven track record supporting risk-related research, experience in working with financial institutions (and with a particular focus on sustainability or climate/nature risk data management and risk mitigation product creation). In addition, some knowledge of risk tools and/or data analytics/modelling and the use of AI to support risk management practices would be advantageous. 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.