UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Senior Technical Advisor

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic partnership between the UN and over 500 financial institutions. It drives the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and fostering a network of leading institutions. The Nature Programme within UNEP FI focuses on research and engagement with financial institutions on nature-related risks, aligning financial flows with biodiversity goals, and implementing disclosure frameworks.

Job Purpose

This role supports the UNEP FI Head of Nature in finalizing the "From Cali to Yerevan: Is the Financial System on Track?" report card, assessing progress in aligning financial flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Senior Technical Advisor will provide crucial expertise in nature and biodiversity finance, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and disclosure frameworks, ensuring the report card accurately reflects the financial system's performance against key targets. The role also involves strengthening the technical quality of UNEP FI's nature-themed deliverables through senior review and maintaining coherence with the broader sustainable finance agenda across UNEP and its partners. The position contributes to upholding UN core values, integrating a human rights-based approach, and promoting gender equality.

Responsibilities

The Senior Technical Advisor will support the Head of Nature in compiling and finalizing the "From Cali to Yerevan" report card, contributing to its structure, drafting, and refinement. This includes conducting desktop reviews of relevant materials, synthesizing evidence on progress and gaps related to the Global Biodiversity Framework targets, and gathering information on biodiversity finance mechanisms. The role involves coordinating inputs from internal and external contributors, providing senior technical review and comments on other nature-themed deliverables, and ensuring all outputs align with UNEP and UN core values. The advisor will also support the integration of the report card into the Finance and Biodiversity Day at CBD COP17 and contribute to UNEP FI’s Social Action Plan.

Work Experience

Requires at least seven years of progressive professional experience in sustainable finance, biodiversity/nature finance, or a related field, with direct engagement with financial institutions, policymakers, supervisors, or central banks. A proven track record in producing high-quality analytical publications on nature and finance, and advising on nature-related frameworks and the Global Biodiversity Framework, is essential. Experience with UNEP FI's nature workstreams and familiarity with CBD COP processes are advantageous.

Skills

Senior-level expertise in sustainable finance with a specialization in nature and biodiversity. Strong command of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, its resource mobilization targets, the High-level Roadmap for Aligning Financial Flows, and nature-related risk, disclosure, and target-setting frameworks (e.g., TNFD). Experience engaging financial actors and public finance. Familiarity with biodiversity finance mechanisms. Excellent analytical and drafting skills in English. Ability to synthesize complex information. Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently under tight deadlines. Pragmatic and collaborative approach.

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