Result of Service

The ultimate result of services of the Consultant will be to: • Develop a brief paper on the social considerations on pollution in the buildings and construction sector. • Organise and hold a workshop, exchange session or webinar on just transition of the building environment.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

4 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 the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 30 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. Per the IPBES Global Assessment (2019), pollution is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss, which is an important factor in climate change and several international frameworks recently adopted or currently under negotiation address the need to reducing pollution. UNEP FI will develop a series of activities to engage with banks and support their action on pollution prevention and reduction and sustainable chemical management in their portfolio, especially in their buildings and construction portfolio. As part of these activities UNEP FI will dive into the intersection between pollution and social considerations within the buildings and construction sector, understanding how the required sectoral transition can be safe, just and equitable, and what is the role that banks can play on that. This will include developing a brief on the social considerations on pollution in the buildings and construction sector, including general recommendations to be included in the guidance for banks on pollution prevention and reduction and its sectoral guidance on buildings and construction, and the organisation of a workshop, exchange session or webinar on the topic, targeting among others the finance sector. Objectives: The objective is (i) to develop a brief paper on the social considerations on pollution in the buildings and construction sector, and (ii) to organise and hold a workshop, exchange session or webinar on just transition of the building environment. Through these two objectives we will be able to have more information on the social dimension of the needed changes in the buildings and construction sector, in order to transition to a safer and more sustainable sector. The objectives will also support understanding how banks can use their leverage to support this to happen. Specific tasks and responsibilities The consultant shall have the following specific tasks and responsibilities: • Develop a brief paper on the social considerations on pollution in the buildings and construction sector, including general recommendations to be included in the guidance for banks on pollution preventions and its sectoral guidance on buildings and construction. The social considerations brief should consider inter alia, the gender dimensions of the sector, the just transition pathways for building environment, the health dimension of pollution in the sector, rights of construction workers, rights of housing and stakeholder engagement. • Organise and hold a workshop, exchange session or webinar targeting financial institutions, banks and other relevant stakeholders on just transition of the building environment. • Provide support as needed to UNEP FI team (especially Pollution and Circular Economy team, Social and Human Rights team and Banking team) on activities related to the intersection between pollution and social in the buildings and construction sector. • The consultant will leverage on the work developed by UNEP FI Pollution and Circular Economy team and Social and Human Rights team to support the just transition to a circular economy and promote solutions, including circular solutions, to prevent and reduce pollution, as well as with other relevant UNEP FI teams (especially the Nature team, Banking team and Climate team). • The consultant will develop a proposal to leverage the work in the buildings and construction sector, including by developing further support to financial institutions to transition to a just and pollution free sector, for the buildings and construction sector or for other high impact sectors. The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to Programme Management Officer, working in close coordination with the Pollution and Circular Economy Lead and the Social and Human Rights Lead.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: A university degree in economics, finance, environment, resource management, sustainability, social and human rights, business, strategy, management, or a related field. The consultant should have excellent listening, writing and speaking communications skills. Professional Experience: A minimum of (5) five years of progressively responsible work experience, ideally in the area of finance/sustainable finance or in social issues. Experience working in/with banks, insurers and/or investment firms is an advantage, as well as experience working in international contexts. Experience working in the buildings and construction sector and /or in the area of just transition or human rights is a plus. Furthermore, the candidate should have a track record of delivering consistently high-quality outputs on time and on budget. The candidate should have successfully managed and written complex, ideally multi-stakeholder, research projects or studies. Experience of stakeholder engagement is a plus.

Languages

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Skills & Knowledge: The candidate should have excellent proven conceptual, analytical, research, interviewing, writing and editing skills. The consultant should have strong project management, stakeholder engagement and consultation competencies. He or she should have an understanding of financial services (banking, insurance and/or investment) and/or of the buildings and construction sector. The candidate should be able to work independently in an organised and timely manner. The consultant will have the ability to prioritise and identify and capture opportunities to add value to the work programme and engage financial institutions in the development of the activities. Strong technical skills will be an advantage. Knowledge of sustainable finance and/or banking and/or insurance is desirable, as well as knowledge on the issue of sustainable practices and social considerations in the buildings and construction sector. Knowledge of pollution is a plus.

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.