To advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services.

Home-Based

6 months

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Climate Change Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture – whether from large-scale operations or smallholder farmers – as well as other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets. By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed, and agricultural commodities are produced. The challenge is to advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services. The consultant will report to the Head of the Climate Finance Unit. Under the supervision of the Chief, Climate Finance Unit the consultant will support the strategic direction of several work streams relevant for the success of the Climate Finance Unit. The specific tasks that he/she will be responsible for across these projects include: - Provide advice on the strategic direction of UNEP’s work on funds and facilities aimed at unlocking public and especially private capital for sustainable land use. Advice can be provided in short briefs, memos and emails and focus on a) what types of facilities and funds should UNEP support going forward; b) with whom to partner and on what conditions; c) when to ‘exit’ UNEP’s involvement; d) which geographic areas to focus on; e) how to ensure links with business development (supply side) and normative work (e.g. State of Finance for Nature). - Provide advice on the strategic direction of UNEP’s work on business development aimed at supporting entrepreneurs – particularly but not exclusively SMEs that are putting restoration, climate and nature considerations at the heart of their business model – increase their business acumen as well as actively link with the demand side (e.g impact investors, venture capital). Advice can be provided in the form of memos, emails, and short briefs. - Provide advice on the strategic direction on issues related to finance for NbS, building on the State of Finance for Nature (SFN) work programme, incrasing the impact of the report and work stream, and thereby UNEP’s role in the nature and climate finance space. This includes; a) whom to partner with to expand the core group of organisations & actively help outreach to those organisations; b) technical advice on methods, analysis around finance flows and investment needs for nature in the context of the Rio Convention targets. Identification of key levers or leverage points for SFN work target; c) articulation of the strategic objectives of the SFN Global Nature Transition Platform 2030, as well as using the network of the advisor to build partnerships with those involved in the transition. - Identify sources of potential funders for the above-mentioned work streams and leverage the network of contacts for the UNEP Climate Finance Unit to engage in substantive discussions about the strategic direction of the above-mentioned work streams and how this aligns with the priorities of potential funders, as a way to get a conversation started on funding some of the new/upcoming work.

A bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economic, international relations, biology or natural resource management with at least five (5) years of professional experience working with financial institutions on forest and/or agricultural finance, agribusinesses, non-governmental organizations, and governments is required. Excellent network with government officials, banks, and investors is desirable. He/she should be autonomous and computer literate in standard software applications; have excellent writing and communication skills; good analytical skills with an interest in the topic of sustainable land use and green finance; have good interpersonal skills. Although, he or she will work in a small team, it is essential that the chosen candidate can work in an independent manner to complete the given assignments.

For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese is required. Being able to speak, write and communicate in Spanish is a distinct advantage.

Not available.

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.