UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Technical Specialist Capacity Building Consultant South Africa

UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) – Technical Specialist Capacity Building Consultant South Africa UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme Remote | Johannesburg National CON level Speaks English Application deadline: March 30, 2026 Closed Apply Summary by Impactpool The UNEP Finance Initiative is seeking a Technical Specialist Capacity Building Consultant to enhance the integration of nature into financial decision-making processes in South Africa. The consultant will develop frameworks, conduct sector analyses, and support capacity building for PRB signatory banks. Key responsibilities include facilitating training sessions, guiding banks in nature-related risk assessments, and creating replicable case studies. This role aims to align financial institutions with global biodiversity frameworks and promote sustainable finance practices. Candidate Requirements: Master's degree in natural sciences, environmental engineering, business, finance, or related discipline 10 years of relevant experience if only a bachelor's degree is held At least 8 years of experience in financial sector, biodiversity, and natural capital Fluency in English; knowledge of other UN languages is an asset Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Experience in ESG risk assessments and due diligence processes Expertise in capital markets and sustainable finance instruments Proven experience in capacity building and training delivery Regional experience in South Africa preferred Strong soft skills and ability to engage senior stakeholders Result of Service The consultant’s services will be pivotal in advancing UNEP FI’s strategic objectives to integrate nature into the core decision-making processes of financial institutions. By supporting the application of ENCORE and developing structured frameworks, heatmaps, and replicable case studies, the consultant will deliver concrete outputs such as material sector analyses, exposure assessments by business line, and derived priority actions. These outputs will demonstrate best practices for embedding nature-related considerations into credit risk, customer risk assessments, sector policies, and portfolio strategies—particularly for agriculture portfolios. Through targeted capacity building, training, and board-level engagement, the consultant will support PRB signatory banks in setting and operationalizing practice-level targets related to governance, policies, and processes, including the integration of nature into customer risk assessments and front-end decision-making. These efforts will directly support alignment with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and reporting maturity in line with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Moreover, the consultant’s work will deliver a proof of concept for an advanced, agriculture-focused capacity-building and implementation program in South Africa. This will include demonstrable outcomes such as trained staff, client engagement strategies, transition and nature finance opportunities in the pipeline, and published case studies that can be replicated by other banks across South Africa and the African region. Work Location Home-Based / Working Remotly / in Johannesburg, South Africa Expected duration 3 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 32 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 needs a consultant to work within the Nature team, focusing on awareness raising, technical capacity building, and coordination of the expanding body of work on nature-related risk management, sector engagement, and transition and nature finance for PRB signatory banks in South Africa. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The Consultant will carry out the following tasks for UNEP FI. a. Enhance applicability and replicable use cases for ENCORE • The consultant will develop a structured framework to aggregate and interpret ENCORE analysis across portfolios, business lines, and agricultural sub-sectors. This will include heatmaps, exposure analyses, and derived priority actions, enabling banks to identify material risks, dependencies, impacts, and opportunities. • The consultant will collaborate with the ENCORE partnership to share technical feedback and improve contextual application for South African and African agriculture portfolios, resulting in at least two replicable case studies. b. Derive priority actions and support target setting for PRB sig