Result of Service

Ultimate result of services:

Through these services the Initiative will be able to enhance its effectiveness in leading work streams, strengthening soft skills to facilitate teamwork, empower personnel, manage conflicts, ensure integrity, and manage performance. The services will also help the initiative to enhance its capacity to inspire, inform and enable the integration of sustainability into financial institutions’ operations and facilitate alignment of private finance with global goals including the UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change and UN SDGs. Finally, the services will help the Initiative to strengthen its approach both within UNEP / UN and externally to banks, insurers and investors, governments, regulators, private sector, and multi-stakeholders.

Work Location

Working remotely

Expected duration

7 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 450 banks, insurers and investors. For over 28 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’s strategy is based around mainstreaming sustainability in financial institutions while contributing to overall systems change. The Secretariat implements the strategy through a work programme structured around work streams. Work streams have a matrix structure across banking, insurance and investment, thematic topics – Climate Change, Pollution & Circular Economy, Social issues and Human Rights, Nature, and SDGs & Impact, as well as a regional coordination team. We also have a new workstream on policy and regulation and are strengthening the management team. Work streams are coordinated by team leads.

UNEP FI needs a consultant to work on developing leadership and management skills, and currently does not have the relevant professional expertise internally to carry out the stated tasks as shown below.

The Objectives:

In line with the work programme delivered during the UNEP FI Annual General Meetings and under the direct supervision of Liesel van Ast, Programme Management Officer, facilitate development of leadership and management skills. Conduct training sessions and individual coaching to develop the management skills of team leads.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

The consultant will provide coaching for to develop the capabilities and competencies of UNEP FI personnel in areas including effectiveness in leading teams, facilitating teamwork, empowering personnel, managing conflicts, ensuring integrity and managing performance.

Outputs and Deliverables:

• 30 coaching sessions on leadership skills including self-awareness, boundary setting, tools to lead and manage teams; generate trust, cooperation and alignment /coordination across programme areas; Build capacity of team to mentor and motivate teams; identify strengths and create efficiencies within teams.
• Summary of feedback and recommendations provided to individual programme managers as well as senior management of UNEP FI.

The consultant shall be under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, working in close coordination with UNEP FI’s Communications Coordinator and Ecosystems team.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic background: A Master’s degree in business, organizational change, or coaching. A First degree could be taken in lieu of advanced degree provided the selected candidate has 12 years of relevant experience.

Experience: At least 10 years working experience in education. Up-to-date proficiency in executive team coaching to promote a reflective leadership approach to managing work roles and relationships. Experience in learning and development of senior executives to help build collaboration.

Skills & Knowledge: Excellent knowledge of executive team coaching. Understanding of developing leadership skills and enhancing supervisory skills for organizational value creation. Ability to cultivate management capabilities to reduce boundaries created by functional silos and build a culture of collaboration. The consultant should have the ability to establish and maintain good working relations in a multicultural environment across teams. Understanding of diverse management styles and behaviors desirable.

Languages

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

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.