Consultant for Climate Smart Insurance Project Plan Development

Job Posting Organization:
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. Established in 1972, UNEP has been instrumental in shaping the global environmental agenda and has a workforce of over 1,000 employees operating in more than 100 countries. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it works closely with governments, local authorities, and industries to promote policies and practices that support sustainable consumption and production. The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers, and investors, focusing on sustainable finance and aligning the financial industry with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility (SIF) is a project pipeline development facility aimed at assisting the Vulnerable 20 (V20) countries in addressing the financial protection needs of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the context of climate change. The SIF is operationalized through the Principles for Sustainable Insurance initiative (PSI) and is supported by the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII).

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive project plan aimed at offering an index insurance solution to protect the MSME borrowers of BRAC, Bangladesh. This project plan will be informed by qualitative inputs from the target MSMEs, assessing their risk financing needs to ensure they can meet their credit and other obligations in the face of business disruptions caused by extreme weather events. The consultant will define timelines and resource requirements, both financial and technical, and identify capacity-building needs for BRAC and the local insurance industry to implement climate-smart insurance solutions. The outcomes of this service will contribute to strengthening UNEP FI's V20 SIF's mandate to support the development of climate-smart insurance projects for MSMEs and agribusinesses in V20 markets, particularly in Nepal. The consultant will work closely with BRAC's teams and the UNEP FI team to ensure alignment with the overall objectives of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include coordinating an on-site workshop hosted by BRAC, Bangladesh, to present key findings and the project plan for feedback from local stakeholders and V20 SIF. They will draft a final project report that includes the project plan detailing timelines, resources needed, and capacity-building requirements, and seek sign-off from BRAC and V20 SIF. The consultant will engage with key personnel at BRAC and its insurance partners to review capacities and gaps in implementing the proposed solution. They will also be responsible for liaising with the wider V20 SIF/PSI/UNEP FI team and ensuring that the project aligns with the broader goals of sustainable finance and climate resilience.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in business administration, management, marketing, economics, livelihoods and employment, gender studies, social development, or a related field. Alternatively, a bachelor's degree may be accepted if the candidate has 12 years of relevant experience. Additionally, candidates should have at least 10 years of experience working on inclusive insurance, climate-smart insurance, or MSME-oriented insurance solutions and related projects. A strong understanding of MSME credit and finance in emerging markets is desirable, along with demonstrable proficiency in project plan development capacities, especially for inclusive insurance interventions against climate risks.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in a relevant field such as business administration, management, marketing, economics, or social development is required. A bachelor's degree may be considered if the candidate has extensive relevant experience (12 years).

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of inclusive insurance, climate-smart insurance, or MSME-oriented insurance solutions. Experience in facilitating interventions in inclusive finance and/or insurance, conducting feasibility studies, and working in related disciplines such as environmental engineering or resource management is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required for this position, as it is the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Bangla is considered an asset, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and is expected to last for one month. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP FI and report directly to the Team Lead of UNEP PSI. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and fair hiring process.