Programme Analyst - Africa and Middle East Regional Task Force

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 220 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 realize the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution strategies and operations.

The consultant will assist the implementation of the activities of the three Commissions and the various Regions especially Africa and the Middle East. Consultant will assist with the work with UNEP FI members, looking after their requirements and collecting theirs financial contributions, as well as assisting with the Annual General Meeting.

In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings and approved by UNEP, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer for the Industry Commissions and the Regions and the overall direction of the Head of UNEP FI, the Consultant will carry out the following project tasks for UNEP FI.

These responsibilities include:

• Provide assistance with helping the activities of the Industry Commissions and the Regions. Provide assistance to help mobilise and coordinate members’ ideas/requests. Provide support to the FI team to link the interests in the Regions to working group and commission activities and provide assistance to members in the Regions to participate in such activities.
• Assist the members’ focal point by identifying and reacting to the individual needs of each member.
• Assist and give support to the ongoing communications with UNEP FI’s members, commissions and regional task forces via e-mails, conference calls, and in-person meetings; maintain the commissions’ and regions’ respective websites.
• Provide assistance and support to the Communications Team to coordinate awareness raising and outreach activities of the Industry Commissions and Regions.
• The consultant will contribute, where appropriate and necessary, to other projects and activities of the Unit in support of the Secretariat’s mandate such as: The UNEP FI Annual General Meeting and UNEP FI finance training activities. The Consultant will:
• Assist in the preparation of a Kick-off meeting for the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group on Sustainable Finance) in Dubai, co-convened by Central Bank, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of UAE, Federation of Banks and local financial institutions with UNEP FI as technical adviser.
• Assist with the preparation of the Global Roundtable event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and working together with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to assist the UNEP FI team in making sure that the deliverables and outcome for the event are addressed in a timely manner.
• Assist and support the FI team who will be working towards finalizing the new regional strategy for the African and Middle Eastern regions that would cover and govern UNEP FI engagement priorities in these regions.
• Help and assist with the follow up on the outreach mission outcomes to the identified focus countries for UNEP FI: Jordan, and Lebanon. This includes, but limited to:
• Preparation of ESRA Workshop in Lebanon together with the Association of Banks in Lebanon
• Convening a CEO Roundtable with the Central Bank of Jordan, Association of Banks in Jordan and the Banking Industry
• Assist and helps the FI team  to undertake outreach efforts to take place in Egypt in the coming months in collaboration with the UNEP Advisory Services.
• Assist and helps the FI team  to undertake “Outreach” efforts in francophone Africa.
• Help the FI team to prepare advise for the Central Bank of Ghana on the set of principles being formulated on Sustainable Banking. Within these efforts, assist in arranging an ESRA workshop addressed to the Managing Directors at the Banking industry level in June.
• Assist the preparations for the GRT, assist in setting up “in person” meetings with the UAE partner and sole sponsor Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
• Assist in deepening the engagement of the Central Bank of the UAE by helping the FI team to push forward the sustainable finance agenda.
• Provide assistance and support in the meetings with individual pre-identified sustainability champions in the UAE, to work together.
• Assist in the preparation of a regional meeting with the African members to approve the strategy and move forward based on their priorities in the domain of SF.
• Assist the FI team in strengthening the engagement with the Banking Association on South Africa by inviting it to be a supporting institution to UNEP FI.
• Assist and support the FI team with their final preparations for GSC meetings and follow up with regional members attending.

• Provide support to Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group on Sustainable Finance in Dubai setup and operational.
• Facilitate the setup of a meeting with the Central Bank of Ghana and conducting a workshop addressed to Managing Directors at the Banking Industry level, aimed at providing a solid understanding on Sustainable Finance, in preparation for the Ghana Sustainable Banking Principles
• The Global Round Table in Dubai is outlined.
• Provide comments to the new regional strategy for the African and Middle Eastern regions when drafted.
• Assist in the preparation of in person ESRA Workshop in Lebanon and a high-level meeting at the banking industry level in Jordan
• Arrange one to one meetings with financial representative following the workshop of Jordan, and Lebanon are setup
• The relation with the Central Bank of the UAE is deepened and in person meeting with sustainability champions are organized.
• Regional meeting with the African members are organized, including a base strengthening mission in South Africa and Ghana.
• The GSC Meeting is finalized.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Quarterly report on activities related to implementation of strategy for work programme delivery;
• Financial institutions mobilized to support work on natural capital and resource efficiency goals,  and network expanded;
• Support the establishment of relevant contacts in government agencies and other national or regional institutions which capacity to level the playing field of financial sector on sustainability issues;
• Assist in the development of key partnerships in the region.

• Minimum advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in international relations, marketing and communications, business, economics, finance or an environmental field is required.
• A combination of a first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in the above subject areas with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

• At least 3 years of programme management experience in international organisations or NGOs or work experience in the financial services sector. Experience working on public-private sector partnerships, specifically in the sustainable finance field or in related field such as CSR is desirable.

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

• 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.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.

APPLICANTS SHOULD INCLUDE A COVER LETTER WITH THEIR SUBMISSION.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.