Programme Officer - Outreach, Engagement & Coordination in Korea

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 over 200 financial institutions, signatories to UNEP Statement of Commitment by Financial Institutions on Sustainable Development, and a range of partners and organizations, to embed environmental, social and governance considerations in financial decision-making. Through its industry, thematic and regional activities, UNEP FI promotes the adoption of sustainability practices by financial institutions and the finance sector at large.

The consultant will work with UNEP FI members, the UNEP FI programme managers, UNEP FI investment industry lead, UNEP FI banking team and regional coordinators, UNEP FI partners and contractors, as well as relevant governance bodies, to disseminate, promote and communicate UNEP FI’s work across Korea by consultations, research, training workshops, and special meetings/events. The consultant will also work on network-building for information and best practice sharing between financial institutions and with key stakeholders is at the core of the regional work.

In line with the work programme agreed at UNEP FI Annual General Meeting and approved by UNEP, and under the direction of Asia Pacific Regional Co-ordinator Yuki Yasui, in close cooperation with Liesel van Ast, UNEP FI Membership and Regional Co-ordination Manager, the Consultant will work on the implementation of UNEP FI annual work plan through the following project task in coordination with Industry and Thematic Lead.

The consultant will enable UNEP FI to engage with its membership in Korea stimulating involvement of members in defining and delivering UNEP FI projects (consultations, surveys, training, research etc.). They will also enable UNEP FI to identify and deliver complementary activities specifically for the country and region if/as necessary through close collaboration with Industry Coordinators and Thematic advisory groups. Specifically, the consultant will attract Korean members & stakeholders to provide inputs to projects, communicate progress and disseminate outputs. Finally, they will help to ensure UNEP FI’s presence and involvement in key national events and conferences and Korean members’ involvement in UNEP FI’s work plan and Global Roundtable.

Specifically, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Develop and execute an agreed work plan in Korea including, contributing Korean elements of Asia Pacific work plan.
• Contribute to the implementation of UNEP FI’s strategies and work plan for 2018/19, including engaging members in the global and regional work programme, supporting communications, knowledge-sharing on country-specific priorities, awareness raising of sustainable banking/insurance investment developments and facilitating peer-to-peer learning.
• Undertake outreach to engage Korean members and non-member financial institutions on opportunities to be involved in UNEP FI projects and activities for the Principles for Responsible Banking, Positive Impact Finance, TCFD, Natural Capital, Fiduciary Duty and Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, and PSI initiatives. Handle insurance, banking and investment related activities and resource mobilization in Korea.
• Recruit new signatories and Retain all existing members within UNEP FI’s membership in Korea.
• Coordinate with the UNEP FI Secretariat to launch outcomes of UNEP FI, National Assembly Budget Office (NABO) and KOSIF cooperation on investor duties.
• Translate and disseminate regular newsletters for Korean signatories. Keep members informed of UNEP FI activities and sustainable finance developments in Korea.
• Support translation and dissemination of outputs where required and respond to requests from Korean signatories, increasing UNEP FI visibility, membership retention and growth in Korea.
• Monitor the involvement of members, by tracking the number of activities, workshops, and working groups that members from Korea take part in through their involvement in the FI global work programme. Track which members have participated in which UNEP FI activity and engage with those who have been inactive.
• Maintain contacts list for Korean members and update status of pipeline of potential members.
• Contribute to collaborative agenda setting, knowledge sharing and awareness raising on the sustainable finance agenda with financial centre actors and public bodies and other relevant Korean stakeholders, building on UNEP FI’s network in Korea.
• Undertake regular meetings and communication with all Korean signatories.
• Lead discussions and planning sessions with Korean members about their participation in the Global Roundtable.

Expected Outputs:

• 2019 Work plan for Korea finalized and implementation underway.
• Members in Korea informed on UNEP FI’s sustainable finance agenda and activities. UNEP FI secretariat informed of Korea members’ priorities and supported on engagement with members’ on strategy and work plan implementation.
• Endorsement secured for the Principles for Responsible Banking from key influencers and financial institutions, especially from existing UNEP FI members in Korea.
• Regular conference calls/webinars/meetings organised with members and global members’ subsidiaries in Korea on priority sustainable finance topics, with expert guest speakers contributing where relevant to address Korean members’ knowledge sharing requests. Preparation for the events including Agenda, background documents and List of participants will be finalised.
• Information shared with Regional Co-ordinator on member involvement in activities in Korea, and participation in the global and regional work programme. Inactive members engaged.
• Knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning undertaken through events/ workshops/meetings.
• Korean members’ participate in global work programme through involvement in projects, consultations or webinars or uptake of outputs such as guidelines, principles and tools, methodologies relevant to priorities in Korea.
• Korean members and stakeholders participate in Asia Pacific Regional Roundtable in 2019.
• UNEP FI website updated with key information on members and activities in Korea.
• Secretariat informed of members’ sustainable finance news and information on members’ and potential members’ maintained.
• Hold quarterly meetings and undertake communication with all Korean signatories as per requirements.
• Two new signatories recruited, with three to four members engaged in UNEP FI’s work programme.
• Cooperation plan between UNEP FI and Korea NABO (National Assembly Budget Office) is delivered and followed up on.
• Cooperation plan between UNEP FI and KEITI (Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute) is implemented and followed up on.
• Regular newsletters /webinars and project-specific communications are disseminated to Korean signatories.
• Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) Market Event delivered and followed up on on an ongoing basis following the event.
• Korean members participate in the Global Roundtable.

The consultant will carry out the following project tasks for UNEP FI in Korea in coordination with the Asia Pacific Coordinator.

• Planning:  Handle UNEP FI’s strategy work plan and activities and support the Secretariat, in particular the Asia Pacific coordinator and the industry coordinators, in developing and assisting in executing an agreed work plan in Korea including assisting in identifying opportunities, mobilizing resources and project managing activities in Korea.

• Coordination: Engaging with UNEP FI’s membership in Korea, as per guidance from UNEP FI, ensuring membership retention and growth, supporting delivery of UNEP FI projects, and promoting uptake of project deliverables. Identifying and assisting in delivering complementary activities to promote the sustainable finance agenda and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. Specifically, attract Korean members & stakeholders to provide inputs to projects, communicate progress, disseminate outputs and exchange knowledge. Develop partnerships to mobilise resources for sustainable finance activities and engage members in defining outputs.

• Communication: Carry out communication activities in Korea, with the guidance from UNEP FI, which aims to disseminate information about the Initiative’s projects and activities and promote membership dialogue, stimulating knowledge exchange and network engagement. Prepare annual UNEP FI meetings in Korea and stimulate participation of UNEP FI’s regional events such as the PSI Market Event. Engage members in consultations and disseminate outputs from the global work programme across banking, insurance and investment. Ensure members’ profiles are up-to-date on UNEP FI’s website and include recent sustainability reports. Engage members in UNEP FI webinars and activities.

• Member Relations and Outreach: work with the FI Secretariat on its member relationship management activities in Korea including recruiting financial institutions to expand the reach of the initiative in key markets in Korea. Hold regular member coordination meetings at least quarterly and at least one group face-to-face meeting with UNEP FI members. Increase number of membership by minimum of 2 financial institutions. Support UNEP FI to identify and engage high-level thought leaders in sustainable finance in the financial sector to contribute to advancing UNEP FI’s strategy.  Engage members in the development of UNEP FI’s regional work plan.

• Training, Workshops and Events: work with the FI Secretariat on coordinating UNEP FI events and meetings in Korea and contributing to awareness raising events around Sustainable Finance in the region. Mobilise members for UN Environment financial centre network activities and events.

Education 

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, environmental studies, international relations, business administration or related fields.

• Bachelors’ university degree in the fields noted above accepted with an additional two (2) years of experience.

• At least five years of work experience, especially in international organisations, the financial services sector, private sector or NGOs examining the intersection between sustainability and finance.

• Proven skills in building and managing relationships with a variety of private and public stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment; 
• To discern common denominators in a diverse set of point of views; 
• To rapidly capture ideas, synthesize and translate concepts into real outputs. 
• Proven knowledge in the fields of sustainable finance and the environment; 
• Financial services sector, knowledge/experience of the regional context. 
• Ability to cope with comprehensive work programmes, multiple projects and activities in an organized and timely manner. 
• Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills; 
• Excellent communication skills, spoken and written, including the ability to draft and edit a variety of materials (communication materials, agendas, studies etc.); 
• Fluency in Korean is required for this position. 
• The incumbent is expected to work independently with minimal supervision, must have significant latitude to be self-directed and be highly motivated.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: International ICA Level 2 (ICS-10)
Contract duration: 5 months

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.