UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) - Senior Technical Advisor

Through these services UNEP FI will finalise and publish, ahead of CBD COP17 and the third Finance and Biodiversity Day (26 October 2026, Yerevan), the second status update on implementation of the High-level Roadmap for Aligning Financial Flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, titled “From Cali to Yerevan: Is the Financial System on Track?”. The report card assesses progress in the two years since Cali COP (October 2024) and the resource mobilisation decision – what has shifted across the Roadmap’s three areas of recommendation (Prepare, Implement and Engage) and where the financial system still falls short against Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 14, 15, 18 and 19. It addresses the actors considered in the Roadmap: government policymakers (in particular finance ministries and treasuries), financial supervisory entities and central banks, and public and private financial institutions and corporate investors. The work sits within UNEP FI’s Nature Programme, which leads research and engagement with financial institutions on nature-related risks, dependencies and impacts, the alignment of financial flows with the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the implementation of nature-related disclosure and target-setting frameworks. As a brief, signposting publication, the report card draws together and cross-references UNEP FI and partner materials and milestones rather than duplicating them. Beyond the report card, the services will strengthen the technical quality of UNEP FI’s nature-themed deliverables through senior review and comment, and help the Nature Programme maintain coherence with the broader sustainable finance agenda across UNEP, the UN and external partners, including governments, regulators, central banks, financial institutions and supporting institutions. The consultant’s work will also contribute to upholding UN core values, ensuring that human rights-based approach, the principle of leaving no one behind and gender equality and women’s empowerment are integrated throughout their work at UNEP FI’s.

Working remotely / Home-based

4 months

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. UNEP’s work is firmly grounded in the UN core values, including the human rights-based approach, the commitment to leaving no one behind, and the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment across all activities. The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and 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 34 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 requires a senior technical advisor to support the Head of Nature in the compilation and finalisation of the finance-sector report card “From Cali to Yerevan: Is the Financial System on Track?” – the second status update on implementation of the High-level Roadmap for Aligning Financial Flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – and to provide technical review of other nature-themed deliverables. The assignment calls for senior-level expertise in nature and biodiversity finance, the Global Biodiversity Framework and its resource mobilisation targets, and nature-related disclosure frameworks, which is not available internally at the required seniority for the duration of this peak delivery period. Objectives: In line with the work programme and under the direct supervision of the UNEP FI Head of Nature, the Senior Technical Advisor will carry out the assigned tasks. The advisor will support the Head of Nature in the compilation and finalisation of the finance-sector report card “From Cali to Yerevan: Is the Financial System on Track?” and provide senior technical review of other nature-themed deliverables produced by the UNEP FI Nature Programme. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The Senior Technical Advisor will undertake the following tasks: · Support the Head of Nature in the compilation and finalisation of the finance-sector report card “From Cali to Yerevan: Is the Financial System on Track?”, contributing to its structure, drafting and refinement through the drafting period. · Conduct a desktop review of relevant UNEP FI and partner publications, milestones, and data to inform the report card and ensure it signposts to, rather than duplicates, existing materials. · Compile and synthesise evidence on progress across the Roadmap’s Prepare, Implement and Engage areas and against Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 14, 15, 18 and 19, identifying where the financial system still falls short. · Gather evidence on the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and the Cali Fund on digital sequence information (DSI) as they relate to finance, including contributions, flows and operationalisation · Identify gaps in the draft and propose inputs, placeholders, and cross-references to address them. · Coordinate inputs from internal colleagues and external partners contributing to the report card, taking account of its shared and externally facing nature. · Provide senior technical review and written comments on other nature-themed deliverables produced by the UNEP FI Nature Programme · Support the use of the report card as an input to the third Finance and Biodiversity Day at CBD COP17 (26 October 2026, Yerevan). · Ensure that all communications outputs reflect UNEP and UN core values, including human rights-based approach, the principle of leaving no one behind and gender equality and women’s empowerment, and contribute to internal awareness on these values. · Support the implementation of UNEP FI’s 2026–2029 Social Action Plan by including all relevant measures from the plan in their work. Outputs and Deliverables: · Completed desktop review feeding into the report card. · Consolidated evidence and cross-references across the Prepare, Implement and Engage areas and Targets 14, 15, 18 and 19. · Evidence notes on the GBFF and Cali Fund (DSI) contributions, flows and operationalisation as they relate to finance. · Gap analysis with proposed inputs and placeholders for the draft. · Drafting and editorial contributions to the report card incorporated. · Final report card supported through to publication ahead of CBD COP17. · Inputs from internal and external contributors coordinated and reflected. · Technical review comments provided on nominated nature-themed deliverables. · End-of-assignment handover note. · The above deliverables will be developed and implemented in alignment with UNEP FI’s Social Action Plan and guided by the UN’s core values. The consultant will report to: Overall supervisor: The Head of UNEP FI. Direct Supervisor: The Head of Nature, UNEP FI

Education: A master’s degree in finance, economics, environmental economics, sustainability, environmental science, public policy, international relations, or a related field is required. A bachelor’s degree could be taken in lieu of master’s degree provided the selected candidate has 9 years of relevant experience. Professional Experience: At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable finance, biodiversity/nature finance, or a closely related field, including direct work with financial institutions and/or financial policymakers, supervisors, and central banks is required. A demonstrable track record of producing high-quality analytical publications on nature and finance, and of advising on or applying nature-related frameworks and the Global Biodiversity Framework, is required. Experience supporting or contributing to UNEP FI’s nature workstreams, and familiarity with the Finance and Biodiversity Day and CBD COP processes, is an advantage.

Languages: English is the working language of UNEP FI. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish and other United Nations languages is an asset.

Skills & Knowledge: Senior-level expertise in sustainable finance with a specialisation in nature and biodiversity, including a strong command of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its resource mobilisation targets (notably Targets 14, 15, 18 and 19), the High-level Roadmap for Aligning Financial Flows, and nature-related risk, disclosure and target-setting frameworks (e.g. TNFD). Demonstrated experience engaging banks, investors, insurers, central banks and supervisors, and public finance actors on nature and biodiversity. Familiarity with biodiversity finance mechanisms and instruments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and the Cali Fund on digital sequence information (DSI), is highly desirable. Excellent analytical and drafting skills in English, with the ability to synthesise complex evidence into concise, policy-relevant text and to conduct rigorous desk-based review. Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently to tight deadlines within a multicultural, geographically dispersed team. A pragmatic, collaborative approach and the standing to provide credible technical review to a senior audience are essential.